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liurhonda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pros: the set up of the novel and pacing allows for a page turner mystery/thriller. Has some good plot twists, and I liked the range of characters included.
Cons: It's ironic how the main messaging (or what it attempts to message) of this book is that female victims are only remembered or highlighted by male perpetrators, while doing so the whole book by he vily centering Ansel/the male perp. We stay in his perspective a lot and the female characters are all quite enamored with him or heavily impacted by him. It makes sense logically but doesn't work with this type of messaging that only comes in at the end, very explicitly. Lots of tell and not show.
Also peppered in the end is a weak, again explicit, critique of the injustice in the prison industrial complex in America. While true, doesn't do anything new, nor does it contribute to the overall messaging of the book. Comes across a bit sloppy and not very impactful. Uses abstract flowery language to describe emotions, atmospheres, etc. too much for my taste. Characters also felt a bit hollow.
(A bit of a spoiler: I also wonder if how Ansel heard voices and how he 'pretends' much of his life alludes to any mental illness? Maybe I missed some implications, but would have loved to see this theme explored a bit more. Or at least this thread wrapped up)
TLDR; Ultimately the messaging/themes of this book where sloppy (some where very ambiguous which I did not like but that's a personal preference) but serves as a good spooky mystery page turner.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
imogenlj's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Drug abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Car accident, and Death of parent
scifi_rat's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
dazzle_spider_reader_1212's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
c_serpent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Total score: 5/5 stars
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, and Stalking
Minor: Drug use, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
cady_sass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol