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winglesswarrior'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
gellyreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
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
elysianbud'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? It's complicated
4.0
Great characters and good plot. Love to see assholes get their due. Author sets atmosphere brilliantly.
(Also the cover for this is gorgeous!)
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
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
asinglebird's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
One thing I think the author did really well, was depict the parallel between Jake’s helplessness as he’s being stalked and harassed by a paranormal entity; and his helplessness as he endures the racism of his fellow classmates/teachers in his all-white school. In both cases he’s being worn down over time, knowing there’s no one who hears him or would believe him.
I struggled a little in the second half as the action became more focused within the astral plane and the fighting is done between spirits wielding ectoplasmic smoke, etc., just because the language gets sort-of nebulous and I had trouble tracking what was going on. But I don’t think that’s a weakness of the writing so much as a limitation of my imagination.
This is a great spooky season read, but definitely check trigger warnings as this story heavily features depictions and discussions of gun violence and school shootings.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Racial slurs and Car accident
allisonsmith120's review
1.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
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