renyoi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Fans of The VVitch will love this book. It manages to be a dark fairy tale without falling into the trappings of the traditional “fairy tale but make it EDGY” genre, mostly because it is not based off of an existing fairy tale and is therefore allowed more creativity and horror because of it. Striking scenes of genuine horror intersperse the first 75% of this book, which is otherwise primarily atmosphere and conversation that comes into its own through the reveal at the end. I’d say that reveal is really what makes this book—it adds complexity, helplessness, and hints toward the horror of repetition and cycle in an innovative, creative way. Absolutely recommend.
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Colonisation, Animal death, and Child abuse
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism
junowo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
5.0
This book took me by surprise. Though I was a bit thrown off at first by the writing style, I’ve found that this is a new favorite book for me. Hunt does very well at setting the atmosphere for horror, and even when nothing is happening, I felt a genuine sense of foreboding while reading.
It’s hard to discuss this book without spoilers, and I recommend going into it knowing as little as possible. If you enjoy piecing together parts of a mystery, you will enjoy this book, because it creates its mystery masterfully. At some points I felt frustrated that I didn’t have answers, but now that I’ve finished it I think each answer came at the right time.
If you enjoy the dark style of fairytale found in Grimm stories, you will have as much fun as I did reading this.
It’s hard to discuss this book without spoilers, and I recommend going into it knowing as little as possible. If you enjoy piecing together parts of a mystery, you will enjoy this book, because it creates its mystery masterfully. At some points I felt frustrated that I didn’t have answers, but now that I’ve finished it I think each answer came at the right time.
If you enjoy the dark style of fairytale found in Grimm stories, you will have as much fun as I did reading this.
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Murder, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Colonisation, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
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