splatteredbastard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
CWs: gore, violence (especially against children), death, abuse, alcohol, graphic descriptions. (This may not be an all-encompassing list, so please research TWs for yourself as well.)
I had pretty high expectations for this book and I think that may be why I felt so disappointed. It kind of reminds me of what I remember of Lord of the Flies (a book I had to read in middle school and didn’t like at the time—I haven’t given it another chance as an adult, though I probably should), but everyone is dead by the end. You know this from the beginning, just reading the description of the book.
I personally did not like the writing style. It was very wordy and confusing, but I will admit that it added to the chaotic effect, which actually makes it better. You are switching between different perspectives, at times rapidly, so it may take a bit of backreading to realize that you have switched from one group to another. I also really did not like the breaking of the fourth wall and using second person POV, as that’s just something I despise, but others have found that section to feel more personal and gruesome, so again, it’s totally personal preference. Part of me found it difficult to believe that these were a group of 6 year olds based on the thought processes and actions detailed, but I tried to consider that anything is possible when you’re out in the woods with a young boy who was abused and traumatized. It definitely seems like the children were written as too mature, especially as someone who has worked with Kindergarteners.
The actual story itself was interesting, but I did take off for the writing style (just as a personal preference, others have loved the book) and the repetition (there are really only so many ways that a 6 year old can murder other 6 year olds and adults). Overall, I would definitely recommend the book, I just had some things I personally didn’t like about it. I think with how hyped it was on Booktok as well, I had higher expectations that just weren’t met, so that’s also something to consider. The ending sequence was excellent and had such detailed gore, which eventually led to the most bleak ending to the story.
Video review on Tiktok, also spoiler free: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR3WTAY3/
CWs: gore, violence (especially against children), death, abuse, alcohol, graphic descriptions. (This may not be an all-encompassing list, so please research TWs for yourself as well.)
I had pretty high expectations for this book and I think that may be why I felt so disappointed. It kind of reminds me of what I remember of Lord of the Flies (a book I had to read in middle school and didn’t like at the time—I haven’t given it another chance as an adult, though I probably should), but everyone is dead by the end. You know this from the beginning, just reading the description of the book.
I personally did not like the writing style. It was very wordy and confusing, but I will admit that it added to the chaotic effect, which actually makes it better. You are switching between different perspectives, at times rapidly, so it may take a bit of backreading to realize that you have switched from one group to another. I also really did not like the breaking of the fourth wall and using second person POV, as that’s just something I despise, but others have found that section to feel more personal and gruesome, so again, it’s totally personal preference. Part of me found it difficult to believe that these were a group of 6 year olds based on the thought processes and actions detailed, but I tried to consider that anything is possible when you’re out in the woods with a young boy who was abused and traumatized. It definitely seems like the children were written as too mature, especially as someone who has worked with Kindergarteners.
The actual story itself was interesting, but I did take off for the writing style (just as a personal preference, others have loved the book) and the repetition (there are really only so many ways that a 6 year old can murder other 6 year olds and adults). Overall, I would definitely recommend the book, I just had some things I personally didn’t like about it. I think with how hyped it was on Booktok as well, I had higher expectations that just weren’t met, so that’s also something to consider. The ending sequence was excellent and had such detailed gore, which eventually led to the most bleak ending to the story.
Video review on Tiktok, also spoiler free: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR3WTAY3/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
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