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tetrootz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
abookwormspov's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
a_littledragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t expect to think this highly of this book when I picked it up for a “light read” in between fantasy or sci-fi books. But it was an awesome ride (excluding the animal cruelty and rape parts- which I want to note for those who pick it up or want to. two moments where these are described/talked about). Probably even more if you went in blind. Pick it up!
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Rape, Suicide, and Death of parent
rely's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
jodar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I found the characters were well portrayed, the MC relatable (despite getting pretty extreme psychologically), the dialogue flowed naturally and the plot moved along at a moderate pace without bogging down. There’s even some nicely pitched humour, particularly aimed against the foibles and excesses of Americans. The story is well-grounded, too, even though at various times the reader is confronted by a wide-sweeping, multiple-time-and-space viewpoint. I kept wanting to pick up the book again each time, which is a good sign.
Themes that for me lifted this novel above a simple “fun read”: the dark side of power, especially power over others’ welfare and lives; friendship and authentic love; true versus apparent strength; the search for meaning; the ultimate mystery of existence.
An impressive first novel by the author. I’d be keen to read any sequel, as the ending hinted there may be.
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Vomit and Car accident
gondorgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
onlyincursive's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Pregnancy, and Classism
This book is hard to warn for. Be especially aware that there is torture and murder of childrenchalkletters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction and Car accident
kenleyneufeld's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Murder
literarybitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
0.75
The central idea is inventive and captivating, I was fascinated to know more, and I vehemently disagree with the ending so hard that I simply cannot recommend it. To the point that actually, I'm just going to say it:
This book makes the argument that horrific cruelty & abuse are justifiable means to motivate someone to achieve their full potential.
I think that's simply so awful that it's not worth reading the rest of the book.
Against the dark landscape of slaughter and pain and rape and torture and killing and resurrection and killing again, there are oddly funny moments, joking lines that have absolutely no hope of landing. Any goodwill the interesting premise created curdled, soured, and died.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail