suchsweetsorrow89'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Spoiler
the one thing i really want to flag for those who have read the book is that i think ward put so much time into researching the effects of DID in ways that must be praised and celebrated. she took so much care into not making this one of those classic horror stories that come off offensive to actually craft a narrative that everyone can relate to at it's basic level: though we all seemingly strive for the good, sometimes the path of memory, acceptance, and forgiveness does not look linear for all, and that sometimes the very key to forgive ourselves and begin to live life and survive again looks like doing just that again and again and learning to celebrate and be angry at sometimes and just lean in. and that is perhaps the most beautiful message to put in a horror book especially.as an avid nerd of the classics and dabbles into what defines the monstrous, this book borrows from so much of these classic authors and hallmark texts and really extracts the themes that make them work (i.e. religion, alienation, body horror, gender constructions, growing up, sexuality, the transcendental spaces of the woods and water, even down to the classic 'haunted house' trope, and so much more) while also developing an entirely unique product in the end that makes me happy i decided to pick up this horror book (as someone who doesn't really read horror) and makes me even more excited to see both what ward and other contemporary horror writers will do in the future. highly recommend!
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Torture, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Medical content, Gore, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming
Spoiler
suicide and suicide attemptniceonehros'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
While much of the content is troubling, disturbing, and hard, this book was worth the discomfort. I don't want to give anything away, but do make sure you read the Afterword.foldingthepage_kayleigh'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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Violence, Death of parent, Animal death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Suicide, Kidnapping, Torture, and Medical trauma
Minor: Abandonment
grunbean'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
5.0
It is a dark book for sure. The last chapters made my skin itch. But it is thrilling. I read the second half of this book in hours - I couldn’t put it down!
Graphic: Medical trauma, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Blood, Body horror, Death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Torture, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
daisybrx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Suicide, Self harm, Gore, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Confinement
baileyt2424's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Torture
stefaniemrichardson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse and Gore
hunkydory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Violence, Animal death, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Murder, and Torture
ahixon1'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Stalking, and Gore
Minor: Vomit
lolaslalaland's review against another edition
5.0
Pros:
✅ I was on the edge of my sea to the very end
✅ twists I never expected
✅ every character was unique and individual
✅ all moments and details are important and come together
✅ truly terrifying and disturbing
✅a masterwork of perspectives
Cons:
❌ a bit of a slow and confusing beginning, I almost DNFed it but I am so glad I didn't!
I feel like I cannot say much more about this book without revealing key details because it is just such a ride that cannot be spoiled. Highly highly recommend to all readers!
Graphic: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Self harm, Alcohol, and Murder