katieduffy151's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
miller8d's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Spoiler
I was surprised by most of the book, and deeply appreciated that the magic of this universe was both fantastical and simple, both logical and inexplicable. I found myself confused about the storyline/losing focus frequently throughout the book, which normally would bother me, but it felt like I was experiencing the same thing as the narrator LOL, which I enjoyed. I found the narrator’s genuinely kind soul very touching and deeply enjoyed the process of discovering what had happened. I didn’t realize it was a mystery novel until halfway through which is awesome. The well-established isolated world meant that, with the appearance of each new person or information, it was genuinely shocking. Very interesting and refreshing read.Graphic: Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Gun violence, Dementia, Confinement, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Vomit and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Trafficking, and Blood
Although this book covers many dark topics,Spoiler
beyond the main topics of confinement and kidnapping and gaslighting,Spoiler
there is a gun and attempted shooting, but nobody actually gets shot, and there are no graphic details about it, etc.hedge12546'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse and Sexual assault
pia_004's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Excrement, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
queenie_ofthe_void'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
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Dementia, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Slavery, Confinement, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, Rape, Death, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
troldmand's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Body horror
Moderate: Murder, Slavery, and Gun violence
Minor: Vomit
victoriajossmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Sexual violence and Physical abuse
careohleen'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and Torture
Minor: Racism and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Murder, Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse
sassylk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Spoiler
the secret history meets the labyrinth! what a novel. I found I was unable to put it down and would get annoyed when people interrupted me, which I haven’t had with a book in a while now. The House is so well described that I felt that I was trapped/ living next to Matthew. Have recommended to everyone I live with! The only problem is that I want more to be explained - what happened to Laurence? who was the little girl who is one of the dead? Why did it take so long to find Matthew? All in all, the book was fascinating and completely original, well deserving of winning the women’s prize.Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping