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jourdanicus'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? It's complicated
4.5
I love when horror has fantastical elements that mirror real horrors. It's such an interesting way to process the actual terrible things that happen in real life. After all, to paraphrase Holly Gibney, we shouldn't question supernatural monsters when we can hardly explain what drives the behavior of real-life monsters.
Speaking of King, this book was compared to It in Libby where I first saw it. That both drew me in and made me feel skeptical. Now that I've finished it I can say, yep, this was a King-alike, and only in good ways! Mostly I would say that it had the same "vibe," but there were definitely some intentional allusions - "a gumball as red as a clown's nose." Clever. And excuse me for blaspheming but I do think some aspects of Malfi's work here are an improvement on King, namely the less effortful diversity of the characters, and the depth of the setting (which was, in a sense, its own character).
And finally... Dennis 🥺🥺🥺 (that's all I will say.)
I can't wait to read more by this new to me author!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Misogyny, Medical content, and Lesbophobia
sky_maris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
arichey1988's review
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
rachelunabridged'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
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Fatphobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide attempt
callikat'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism and Child death
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Racism and Lesbophobia