The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
nialiversuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Mental illness, Animal death, Abandonment, Bullying, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Child death, Murder, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Vomit, Drug abuse, and Car accident
singalana'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? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Suicide, Bullying, Death, Torture, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
tyserena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia
mysterymom46's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Cursing, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Blood, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Self harm, Torture, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Homophobia
shelbsies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Though this story has many twists and turns, it had many threads throughout it that allowed me to slowly weave all the mysterious bits and pieces together. The "plot twist" (if it can even be called that) was executed so well; the truth of the various mysteries was shown in snippets and tangled threads throughout, in a way easing the reader into an understanding of what happened while still keeping me on my toes, which I quite enjoyed. I didn't have to act surprised at a big twist because Tudor really guides the reader into what happened by first giving hints and then verifying what's true.
For a moment I thought the ending was going to disappoint me, but it all came together so gracefully I was immediately able to disregard what bothered me. Despite everything that happened, there was a moment that felt a bit too far fetched and I had to suspend my belief, but upon further reading I realized it did really fit into the nearly unbelievable chaos of this book (and I also accepted that this is fiction and anything is possible).
If you're curious, it was Wrigley's plot that bothered me. I found it hard to believe this town had housed so many twisted teenagers through the years (Jacob being the other and honestly Rosie too), yet I was completely unfazed every time a burning girl apparition was seen... but as the scene in the church passed I got over it.Â
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gore, Child death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
mydearwatsonbooks's review against another edition
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, Pedophilia, Murder, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Gore, Child abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Minor: Racism, Vomit, and Sexism
Use of r-wordscburhans's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
** Spoilers Below **
The biggest thing I had an issue within this book was Ruby's family. It made me really uncomfortable that the first black and gay characters we get in the book are child abusers and murderers. While I don't think the racism and homophobia from this decision was intentional - I think it was in an attempt to introduce a discussion on unconscious biases - but it still did not read well at all. Having the villain of the story fake a disability also made me incredibly uncomfortable as a disabled person. There was a lot of covert, and I hope unintentional, ableism in the story. I did, however, enjoy the rest of the book, so I did decide to give the story 3.5 stars rather than just three.Â
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Murder, Pedophilia, Suicide, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
kathryn_a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Hate crime, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Vomit
readergirl_87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, and Gore
rachaelbeau's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The cold open beginning was a little confusing, and after having read the entire book I'm still not entirely sure what the author was going for. But the pace the rest of the book was excellent, and definitely kept me fully engaged. I could read page after page after page, I needed to know what happened.Â
There's a plot twist featuring a main side character, and I did not see that one coming. I thought that was very smart and thought out, especially as you assume Tudor isn't going there as she's hinted around it so much. I thought it was very clever, and I enjoyed that. I liked that the supernatural element wasn't waved away as something else, I like supernatural elements in stories and I'm always a little sad when it's explained as something else by the end. Flo was an excellent, realistic, flawed character, and I enjoyed reading her perspectives. I also liked that the small village was almost a mood or a character of its own, I thought that was really compelling and it sucked me right in. On top of all that, the writing and dialogue was well done, and I think this one might be Tudor's best.Â
However, the ending. The last twist wasn't good. It wasn't explained well, the ties weren't fully tied, and it was confusing and unrealistic. This is a common issue she has with her books, and it's frustrating that on her 3rd (4th?) book it's still happening. It's a twist that you can't see coming or solve yourself with the clues given, and I never like those. I also really struggled with the male alternate chapters, and while I know who he is now, I don't understand him or his motivations. On the topic of the alternating chapters, while I liked the different perspectives, I didn't like not knowing who was starting a chapter and having to scan the page to figure it out.Â
This was a compelling thriller, and I did stay up way too late to finish it. I liked it, and maybe you will too.
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Gore, Suicide, and Animal death
Moderate: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, and Terminal illness
Minor: Gun violence