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trysarahtops's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
renyoi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
At the risk of sounding demented, I think this book would have benefitted from more explicitly horrifying moments. Everything was left to imagination and interpretation, which enhanced the experience for the first 70% of the book, but when I never truly know the horrors of what happened, some of the intensity and bite is taken out of the story. It could have gone further.
That said, it was still an enjoyable, tense, mysterious read, and even though it did not have enough satanic panic-based 80s horror for me, my experience reading it was good.
That said, it was still an enjoyable, tense, mysterious read, and even though it did not have enough satanic panic-based 80s horror for me, my experience reading it was good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Forced institutionalization
calistaandrechek's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Thank you to NetGalley, Jess Lourey and Thomas & Mercer for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first novel by this author, but I can honestly say after this novel that it will not be my last. I have heard amazing things about her books and now I understand why. The plot was very dark and the town was definitely messed up in so many ways, but the chapters were short and overall, it was a really quick read. I loved the characters, even the ones that come off as hateful in the beginning. This definitely has a few trigger warnings and the subject matter won't be easy for everyone to read, but the author handled it very tastefully as there was no unnecessarily graphic scenes. I also liked that the author had a note in the beginning of the novel and I highly recommend you read it. I will be getting her entire backlist promptly.
This is my first novel by this author, but I can honestly say after this novel that it will not be my last. I have heard amazing things about her books and now I understand why. The plot was very dark and the town was definitely messed up in so many ways, but the chapters were short and overall, it was a really quick read. I loved the characters, even the ones that come off as hateful in the beginning. This definitely has a few trigger warnings and the subject matter won't be easy for everyone to read, but the author handled it very tastefully as there was no unnecessarily graphic scenes. I also liked that the author had a note in the beginning of the novel and I highly recommend you read it. I will be getting her entire backlist promptly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault