ktkate's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction and Homophobia
Minor: Child abuse
embarcaderosky's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Bullying, Alcohol, Homophobia, Blood, Child abuse, Incest, Hate crime, and Pedophilia
Minor: Slavery
tiktakkodiak's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book really changed me. it healed parts of me in ways i don’t know how to describe, and also hurt parts. it’s dark and weird and it’s hard to figure out where it’s heading next, but never once did i want to put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Homophobia, Gore, Bullying, Hate crime, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Abandonment
hanakorodgers's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I loved the prose and the tone of writing. Really poetic but not overly dense or thick with metaphors. Follows some tropes and themes that I find overdone and needless, but I was moved by the juxtaposition of tenderness and icy-ness throughout.
Spoiler
Although I understand the choice of the author to make the assault by Burke very graphic and clear vs the ongoing abuse by Nathan's father more illusive and hinted-at, I don't particularly enjoy witnessing these acts of violence. Although realistic considering the storyline and the context, I didn't especially enjoy the violence being the climax of the novel nor did I really appreciate the trope of gay people having to suffer for literary purposes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child abuse
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