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.gingerale06'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
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
squisheebee_'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Stalking, Torture, Child abuse, Child death, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Animal cruelty
jennay's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Suicide, Child abuse, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Murder, Confinement, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Self harm, Torture, Child death, and Animal cruelty
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
keen'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: Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Violence, Child abuse, Confinement, and Torture
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Abandonment, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Pedophilia
Minor: Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide attempt
caelainnnn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Murder, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, and Physical abuse