Scan barcode
tales_told_in_gold's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Drug abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Cancer and Grief
emequalsme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Racism and Murder
samspur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Very interesting dystopian premise. Lena drops out of college to pay family debts by working for a government research program.
Lena continued to endure these trials because of her devotion to her family. While I wish we would have got to know the characters a bit better, I really loved Lena, Charlie, and Deziree. I loved that Lena gave silly names for the people that worked at Lakewood. It caught me by surprise that the book change formats at times. There were parts in this book that had me ill (
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Medical content, and Murder
brotestantethic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
What fell just short for me was the main character Lena’s personality and stakes. She has high stakes for sure, but they are not built in a convincing way before plummeting into the horrors. Lena’s personality blossoms in the second act, consisting of letters written to her best friend Tanya; here, we get a hazy first person account of her journey. This section is full of personality, with words and grammar slipping into a diabolical haze of sickness and poor memory. This bit was, I will say, extremely hard to follow. But the heart is there, and the
Graphic: Chronic illness, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Medical trauma, and Murder
alchamp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Gaslighting
killmoore_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
There were a few moments that could have been pure horror, but Lena's need to be detached and emotionally void dampened the effect, which was disappointing.
I'd recommend as a conversation starter for a book club, or someone looking for a truly interesting concept written as a "stuff happens" sandwich. It begins, stuff happens, then it ends.
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Gore, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Cultural appropriation
spineofthesaurus's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Slavery, Terminal illness, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Police brutality, Car accident, and Pregnancy
mlovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
zombiezami's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Sexism, Torture, Vomit, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
bitterseason's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Alcohol