gellyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, and Violence
seraphina2000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Suicide, Child abuse, and Terminal illness
mysterymom46's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Injury/injury detail, Car accident, Terminal illness, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Gore, Self harm, and Child abuse
Spoiler
mentions and experiences of early onset Alzheimer’s; SA on page; prejudice of a person’s physical appearance; incidents of relations between young girls and older men; dismemberment; graphic scenes of physical abuse among minorsanonkat_6's review against another edition
3.75
It wasn't bad per say, just slow at some points and I always expected more but never got it. Overall though I do understand why people like it and it is worth a read.
Moderate: Gore and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion
alisacress's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gore, Murder, Blood, Physical abuse, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol
emilysaidhello's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Injury/injury detail, and Gore
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Dementia
Minor: Abortion, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
crustyy_rat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Child abuse, Dementia, and Death of parent
schwi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Dementia, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Sexual assault, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcoholism
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Gore, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence
tayahmarie'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
However, I did enjoy the story for what it was. I thought the plot was unique, I was invested in the characters/their fate, and it was insanely gripping. Like I mentioned in previous posts, I love dual timelines and Tudor executed it well here. My interest in wanting to find out everything I could about what happened in the past and the present day was equal.
The idea of some crazed killer drawing Chalk Men symbols around your hometown (much less a crime scene) is terrifying. Tudor is phenomenal when it comes to imagery and documenting some of the most gnarly and gruesome scenes, as well as just downright CREEPY (the church scene/one of Eddie’s nightmares towards the end? WTF!) There were a few paragraphs I had to bypass because I could actually picture what was going on and wanted to jump out of my skin and throw the book across my room. It was disgusting! That’s how you know someone’s a good writer in that realm, lol. Also, I definitely recommend looking up trigger warnings prior to reading this because there are A LOT. I wish I would’ve because I was completely caught off guard.
Final Thoughts: Overall, this was good. Really good. It was very reminiscent of a Stephen King novel (as if I read more than one book of his 😅). Lastly, this story has me looking at EVERYONE suspect 👀 - it’s pretty crazy when you think about how you don’t REALLY know someone. That goes for your family, your friends, co-workers, the person you’re sitting next to on a train/plane, etc. We all keep secrets, yes, but some are more dangerous, deadly, and downright depraved than others. The quote I chose, in the beginning, is a true sentiment to this little novel, especially the ending 😶!
Graphic: Sexual violence, Gore, Body horror, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Animal death, and Adult/minor relationship