kcraig73's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Kidnapping
mixeterna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sadly, the ending felt cliché to me and was a bit disappointing.
Spoiler
Amanda's relationship with Ed, while they had their happy moments, read to me as consistently strained since before her possession, so the overwhelmingly romantic notions towards him came across very forced. Maybe that's the point - that she doesn't care about her grievances with him anymore since her life was completely destroyed by Naamah. But to me it felt a bit cheesy, and the last line just confused me. It's a shame because I really enjoyed the chapter directly before it, where Naamah had almost completely taken over and we only got glimpses of her life between blackouts. It could have been more powerful and unsettling if it stuck with that.There was a semi-frequent use of homophobic slurs throughout, including in the very first scene, and some racist rhetoric which was never really addressed. The main character isn't painted as a likeable person, but it still made me pause and wonder whether this was a reflection of her character or just the author. There was also a conflation between demonic possession and mental illness at points,
Spoiler
especially since she ends up institutionalised at the endGraphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Cursing, Homophobia, and Sexual violence
Minor: Vomit, Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, and Racism
Increasing depictions of murder and gore towards the end of the book. Body horror, again more towards the end. Cursing throughout. Some mentions of characters vomiting. Use of homophobic slurs and at a few points some stereotyped depictions of people of colour. Mention of kidnapping. Graphically described instance of child abuse with a brief mention of parental abuse:Spoiler
At one point, a child is purposely and repeatedly pushed underwater to drown, but is saved. The child is also described to have experienced "worse at home".Spoiler
Naamah, while possessing Amanda, has sex with people and Amanda is often only acutely aware or completely blacked out. She describes being disgusted with it and herself afterwards.angryoppossum'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? It's complicated
5.0
Spoiler
goddamn i wanted her and ed to get back together, absolutely heartbroken omgSpoiler
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcohol
rosesofthespring's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Alcohol, Confinement, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder, Death, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Classism, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Child death, Death of parent, and Excrement
It's a book about demonic possession, so there are are a lot of psychosis-esque symptoms, although the main character is not actually psychotic/schizophrenic. This book may be triggering to readers with psychosis, especially those with religious delusions.