Scan barcode
metalcutesolid's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry
dez02'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
4.0
This book primarily focuses on children and the mess of their families. It is detailed and intense. The author describes many horrible things that happen to these children. I would say it is not for the faint of heart.
I found myself having to take a break multiple times. Having to sit back and just take in what I read.
That being said, the book was beautifully written. It's in 3rd person (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong), so we get the opinions of every character that we can. We see what goes on in their heads and how they get manipulated by "The Nice Man".
It shows just how fragile humanity can be, and how with the flip of a switch, everything could come crumbling down. Just a little whisper in someone's ear to send them down the wrong path could be the catalyst to ruining their lives.
Although the topics of the book are dark I did enjoy reading it. I recommen it with caution. Think about your own mental health and decide if you are in a steady place to delve into something dark.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
linneak'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Pregnancy
reclusivebookslug's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
On one hand, this book has an incredible ability to suck you in and keep you reading. Given the length of the book, I thought it might be more slow-paced or take its time on the exposition, but I was pleasantly surprised at how instantly gripping it was. It was very emotionally engaging and affected how I felt even when I was not actively reading it. At turns, it is scary, disturbing, sad, funny, and endearing. I was interested in the themes of generational trauma, cycles of abuse, and society's complicity in the evil of a few that allows suffering to spread.
On the other hand, I didn't enjoy the religious overtones of the latter part of the book and the reveal was something of a disappointment. It was grand in scale but not in emotional resonance for me. Sometimes plots of such cosmically huge proportions lose their impactfulness for me because they feel less personal. The very ending, in particular, I don't like.
The depictions of mental illness aren't the best. This is in line with part of a larger issue with the horror genre using mental illness as a plot device. There's also a very positive and uncritical depiction of a sheriff, which seems out of touch with the reality of the role of law enforcement.
The subplot of Mary Katherine's virgin pregnancy is annoying. The book ending with the implication that the baby will grow up to be the next pawn in the nice man's plan to escape Hell is such a disappointment. Despite the huge scale of the conflict, the resolution doesn't seem to reach that level of importance. Sure they escaped disaster, but it is only a temporary solution to a problem with no end in sight. I didn't expect them to kill the devil and rid the world of all evil or anything, but they didn't do anything to stop or change the cycle, they just created a slightly happier ending to this one circuit.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Mental health-related triggers are the biggest ones. They use a lot of common horror tropes like: not being able to trust your own thoughts; paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions being real; being constantly watched; the world ending; everyone but you and those close to you being crazy or out to get you; etc. which were upsetting to me, and I don't even have particular mental health reasons that make them triggering to me.buecher_und_huehner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
robin345's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Self harm, and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse and Religious bigotry
angryoppossum'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
only finished because i was too far in
the book definitely did not need to be as long as it was
Graphic: Child death and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Dementia, and Kidnapping
Minor: Torture
abbyg007'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Murder, and Pregnancy
fate_of_ansley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, and Murder
mblanke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual content