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 attemptnicolesbookreviews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Animal death, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Incest, Alcohol, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
niceonehros'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.forkontheleft's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Vomit
ilaxaria'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death of parent, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Hate crime, Torture, Self harm, Homophobia, and Fatphobia
Minor: Eating disorder
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
ommageden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a good library read.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
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
hangry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Child death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Animal death, and Child abuse