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bebidocrimes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The summary for this book, while not exactly misleading, is a lot flashier than what is presented in text. A murder happens in a full contact haunted escape room, but the real meat of the story is the characters' backgrounds, and what led each of them into this situation. It takes a look at the toxicity of sexism, racial fetishism, and entitlement. I really enjoyed the concept of the Quigley House as a whole, even if I'm too chicken to set foot in a place like that, and I'm imagining how vindicated the characters who condemned the attraction from the beginning must feel. Overall, a good read even if it wasn't quite what I was expecting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
ladyinverse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
(audiobook)
i gave this book a try because it was labeled with the LGBTQIA tag, so i went for it for my June reads for pride month.
the only rep there was, was a young male who was stereotyping young black men to not be studious and this young male also was obsessed with his crush on his English teacher and stalked this male teacher across the globe to try and be with him. not a great rep for the book.
the horror aspect of the book was at least interesting of a concept: full contact horror house but a side secret plan makes everything go very very wrong on a tour where a character is murdered as a result.
none of the characters, aside the main girl Kendra, was even remotely likeable.
the book was.. not great overall. the writing was loquacious in the most boring way. anytime a character spoke, instead of using "he yelled" or "she spoke softly" or literally anything else, every time a character interaction happened the usage and verbage was "s/he said."
i would have died from alcohol poisoning if i was doing shots every time I heard the word said/says.
i gave this book a try because it was labeled with the LGBTQIA tag, so i went for it for my June reads for pride month.
the only rep there was, was a young male who was stereotyping young black men to not be studious and this young male also was obsessed with his crush on his English teacher and stalked this male teacher across the globe to try and be with him. not a great rep for the book.
the horror aspect of the book was at least interesting of a concept: full contact horror house but a side secret plan makes everything go very very wrong on a tour where a character is murdered as a result.
none of the characters, aside the main girl Kendra, was even remotely likeable.
the book was.. not great overall. the writing was loquacious in the most boring way. anytime a character spoke, instead of using "he yelled" or "she spoke softly" or literally anything else, every time a character interaction happened the usage and verbage was "s/he said."
i would have died from alcohol poisoning if i was doing shots every time I heard the word said/says.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Stalking
Moderate: Hate crime and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Sexual content
hmn54437's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow.
That’s the only word bouncing around in my brain as I finish this book. James Han Mattson has flawlessly stitched together a gut wrenchingly important story of the harsh realities of racism, fetishization, and dehumanization of POC in America.
Each perspective we read from offers a different insight into each of these topics climbing higher and higher revealing more and more until we reach the peak in Cell Five.
We go through this book peeling back layer upon layer of social horrors until we reach the core at the biggest reveal of the story: finding out that John fabricated this whole plan for Bryan’s death as an attempt to a) gain more business and b) a charity case to feed his savior complex seen in how he uses the court case as an opportunity to flaunt his donation to the NAACP on behalf of Bryan.
Between this reveal and Leonard and Jaidee’s racism and fetishization, we’re left with an absolute gut punch of a novel. Paired with Mattson’s gorgeous prose and dialogue and the phenomenal combination layout of court scenes, character explorations, and moments inside the Quigley House this book was everything I wanted and more.
That’s the only word bouncing around in my brain as I finish this book. James Han Mattson has flawlessly stitched together a gut wrenchingly important story of the harsh realities of racism, fetishization, and dehumanization of POC in America.
Each perspective we read from offers a different insight into each of these topics climbing higher and higher revealing more and more until we reach the peak in Cell Five.
Between this reveal and Leonard and Jaidee’s racism and fetishization, we’re left with an absolute gut punch of a novel. Paired with Mattson’s gorgeous prose and dialogue and the phenomenal combination layout of court scenes, character explorations, and moments inside the Quigley House this book was everything I wanted and more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Violence, and Murder
mxajlikesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Infidelity, and Alcohol
cheyraisin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder