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julieyael's review against another edition
There was too much incoherence for my taste.
Also the main character was not really loveable or relatable and I had a hard time understanding her reactions.
There is a mystery and some fantasy, but it’s not worth (for me) the challenge of reading this until the end.
And the content of the book has many hard subjects which I was not really expecting (I should have checked the content warnings before, because I was really uncomfortable with lots of things)
So, not for me, but maybe for someone else it’s a good book.
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, and Stalking
ash_ton'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? Yes
3.75
i was not expecting the turn the book took. like, at all. wild
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Cultural appropriation
bruisedtigers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Some dialogue with side/supporting characters is very heavy-handed for making a statement, which is all very well, but feels unbalanced compared to the more eloquent writing of similar issues in other sections of the book. Unfortunately, it sticks out in an odd way.
The character work is great and I always admire well-written child characters in fiction. So much of this gets under the skin and lurks in an eerie way. Unique with its horror elements and very haunting.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
mjadeh's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
savvylit'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? Yes
5.0
Sorrowland is a thrilling and captivating story right from the start. Solomon plunges readers directly into Vern's post-escape world in the woods. The details of Vern's former cult, The Blessed Acres of Cain, are then slowly revealed to the reader in increasingly disturbing flashbacks. Once Vern, Feral, and Howling leave the safety of the land, the story becomes even more riveting. Vern experiences a painful and mysterious physical change. Her evolving form is clearly connected to the cult she left behind - but she doesn't know how or why. Readers join Vern on her voyage of discovery and learn the truth of it all alongside her.
Beyond the engrossing and mysterious plot, Sorrowland is also chock-full of loveable characters. Vern is palpable, nuanced, and relatable. Feral and Howling are adorable and some of the most fully-formed child characters I've ever experienced in fiction. Bridget and Gogo are beautifully portrayed characters whose imperfections make them all the more loveable. Essentially, every single character in this book felt like a real person & now I miss them all.
Last - but not at all least - the thematic content in this book is a delight. Solomon gives us queer love, found family, government conspiracy, cult dynamics, backwoods survivalism, and magical realism. If any of these themes appeal to you, Sorrowland is not to be missed!
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, and Pregnancy
maksipad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
mixtercharlie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
razzberry_pi'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? Yes
4.75
usually i can guess where book twists are going to be, but this one suprised me while still making sense.
definitely head the content warnings on this one as a lot of the topics are quite heavy, but the topics were handled with care in a purposeful way, not just trauma porn
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Colonisation
lpdx'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Medical content
cookiecat73'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Racial slurs, Slavery, and Excrement