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maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Physical abuse and Terminal illness
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was a really fascinating horror / mystery / coming-of-age story about Andrew, who had decided to join his best friend Eddie at his graduate program. However, before Andrew arrives, Eddie dies by suicide, and Andrew is left with Eddie's inheritance, house, and so many unanswered questions about how Eddie got to that point of despair. Andrew begins to question the motives of the folks who were in Eddie's life, wonders if there was more to Eddie's death than what appears, and is thrust into this life of fast cars (I guess this is marketed as Fast & the Furious, but make it southern gothic? I guess I co-sign that?), drugs, sex, and suspicious relationship dynamics.
Overall, this was a deeply atmospheric book, and I could easily visualize the setting. The author did a wonderful job in the setup and creating an eerie setting. The pace is incredibly slow, so just be mindful of that. I had to come back to this multiple times because I kept falling asleep *cries in "I'm sorry!"* As far as the characters, I didn't particularly love or root for any of them, but I appreciated the authenticity in which they display anger, callousness, carelessness, and defensiveness. Andrew is grieving his best friend, he is confused about it, and he is getting to know an entirely new group of people, which can often be disorienting on its own. Throw in a dark academia southern gothic setting of universities where there may be hexes afoot and certainly are systemically oppressive structures at play? Sheesh. That sounds like a nightmare to navigate. I get it. However, I didn't feel particularly pulled to Andrew in the way I should have as a main character, at least not until the very end.
Overall, I think this is an impressive debut, and I will absolutely read more from the author in the future, but I deeply struggled to maintain interest in this slow-paced novel.
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
nikoops'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying
jojothefool's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Cannibalism, Car accident, and Death of parent
dodgeremerson'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Medical content, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Death of parent
introverted_reads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Religious bigotry and Fire/Fire injury
parasolcrafter'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death
kkulhannie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery