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sifairi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Self harm, and Torture
parkerluck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
I also found it distracting that
Something I might rec to a younger family member as gateway horror, but not something I will remember for long now that I'm finished it.
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Moderate: Self harm, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Torture, and Murder
thenareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
jazminnnnnnn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
jenny_d's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
cosmodeus_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
its_nix'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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
There was quite a bit of graphic body horror in this book, so be warned before embarking on the journey of this book. I really enjoyed seeing the mystery play out, and I was very satisfied with the ending. This was a very strong debut, and I am excited to see more from Rory Power!
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Torture, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Murder
lizzyc_16'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
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture, Vomit, and Cannibalism
andromeda_1998'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Characters
Hetty; Im not sure about my opinion about her. She is a bit typical main character but I didn’t really mind reading about her. She is a teenager, makes mistakes that a girl her age would make and she can do things without thinking them through.
Byatt; she seems nice, she’s a good friend and an interesting character to read about. I’m not sure if I like the writingstyle that Rory Power decided to use for her but I’m okay with it.
Reece: Well she is the typical bitchy character with trauma. Who reacts a curtain way to protect herself.
Writing
Rory Power uses two different writingstyles throughout the book and where I liked one, I disliked the other, but from the beginning it was a clear choice. She made that choice for a reason and I do respect that.
Worldbuilding
For me the idea of the setting was good, but I’m not sure if she explains her world enough.
Plot
We start the story a full year after the tox has invaded the island. The tox changes everything it touches. Wildlife became more aggressive and dangerous, and plants that where normal are becoming toxic and even the girls on the island change in ways they don’t understand. Nobody knows why. On island is an only girl school where survivors of the tox still live. Hetty, Reece and Byatt are three of those survivors. When one of Hetty’s friends goes missing she has to find out what happened or face the consequences.
The story has queer elements, is high stakes and the book has its ways to keep you invested in it from the start. It’s fast paced, the ending blows you away and sadly leaves you with questions unanswered.
Why a duology instead of a stand-alone?
The worldbuilding, I felt that there was more to explain about the island and the tox. But while the explanation my be there, it’s done rushed and I believe the story suffers for it. I think it would have been better as a duology. The first book would be the beginning of the tox, we would see the island crumble under a new disease. We could have seen the first months, since it’s clearly important to know about it but Power doesn’t seem to find time to go in depth. The second book would be this one, but with more room for the explanation behind the tox and maybe even a third pov from one of the still remaining grownups on the island. Power would have time to answer most questions and she would still have been able to end the story the she did.
Recommendations: I do like this book, and I think that readers who enjoyed this one would love gone by Micheal Grant.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail