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
chloseencounter'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I don’t know what I was expecting, I went into this read pretty blind to what it was about. I’m not sure what I thought it was going to be, but definitely not what it was…
This novel was beautifully written and brutal, the descriptions of graphic violence where some of the most agonizing and genuine I’ve ever read but that’s sort of all this story had to offer. I kept waiting for there to be some sort of lesson or point to the brutality but there just wasn’t. I just keep coming back to the why of it all. You may expect a story to have a plot, or a lesson, or even be a character study but to me, it just wasn’t any of those things. I suppose it was meaning to stand for loss of innocence but I didn’t even get enough time and introspection with each character to see that. I suppose if anything the ending was…ironic, I guess.
I don’t think of myself as someone who is bothered by violence but also I don’t really find joy in reading about the terrible and upsetting deaths of six year olds, one after another…and for what? Was it some weird metaphor for Darwinism? I honestly have no idea and at the end of the day that left me with a lot to be desired.
This novel was beautifully written and brutal, the descriptions of graphic violence where some of the most agonizing and genuine I’ve ever read but that’s sort of all this story had to offer. I kept waiting for there to be some sort of lesson or point to the brutality but there just wasn’t. I just keep coming back to the why of it all. You may expect a story to have a plot, or a lesson, or even be a character study but to me, it just wasn’t any of those things. I suppose it was meaning to stand for loss of innocence but I didn’t even get enough time and introspection with each character to see that. I suppose if anything the ending was…ironic, I guess.
Spoiler
The hunter becomes the hunted.I don’t think of myself as someone who is bothered by violence but also I don’t really find joy in reading about the terrible and upsetting deaths of six year olds, one after another…and for what? Was it some weird metaphor for Darwinism? I honestly have no idea and at the end of the day that left me with a lot to be desired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Violence, Alcohol, Murder, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Torture
elsebeok's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
Moderate: Excrement, Grief, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual harassment
More...