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maxinekelly'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Car accident
petite_madeline's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I initially picked up this book because I saw people tagging it as dark academia and I was excited to finally see some diverse representation in the dark academia niche! This story takes place at a private school with themes of death/mystery, and there are setting descriptions that definitely fall in line with DA vibes. However I think that this book would also be enjoyable to people who love paranormal and/or queer horror.
This book ended up being way more intense and thematically heavy than I was expecting from YA, but I loved it! These are important conversations that need to be had: Black/queer intersectionality, gun violence in schools, gender norms/toxic masculinity, family acceptance/support, ancestral connections. It's a short book but there's so much packed in these pages!
Aside from the literary themes, Douglass also included beautifully descriptive and cinematic scenes that pull readers into a thoughtfully built paranormal world. Unfortunately, I struggle with slight aphantasia, meaning I have trouble creating mental images, so I ended up a bit lost during these highly visual scenes. I am jealous of anyone with a strong "mind's eye" who can thoroughly enjoy the detailed world that Douglass created.
The trigger warnings listed below may spoil some elements of the story, but please read if you may be sensitive to some of these potential triggers.
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Heavy trigger warnings for: Racism, homophobia, mass shootings, graphic violence, suicide, incest (attempted), sexual assault (attempted), child abuse (physical and emotional), animal abuse (bugs), fire
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Suicide
jackiie's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Abandonment, and Alcohol
nemeiadarkwalker's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Cursing, Gore, Homophobia, Gaslighting, and Classism
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I understand the role that the violence played in the book, and it fit. Just wasn’t prepared for it going in.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cursing, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Police brutality, and Abandonment
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
brookey8888's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
goldendreams's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Slavery, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Overall, thought the book was solid. I enjoyed the paranormal aspects of it and how it also spoke on trauma. I would've liked to see more of Jake learning/accepting his power thought. I enjoyed reading about his interpersonal relationships growing and how his intrapersonal relationship grew as well.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Grief
meaghanjoyy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing and Homophobia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Alcohol