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crowyhead'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
4.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
erinbarr13'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
korikam'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
lizreaderhold'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
racl'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? No
4.25
Culty, unhealthy family dynamics, beautiful writing, I enjoyed it!
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Pregnancy, and War
archaicrobin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The characters were all unlikeable and prevented me from connecting with any of them. The story is told from two timelines, one in the past before the massacre on the island, and the other after from the perspective of the sole survivor. It’s written in first person for both perspectives but this did not help connect with the character, it just made things more tedious in my opinion.
Along with unlikeable characters the pacing was far too slow and this book was a total slog to get through. I had to force myself to read this because most of the time nothing was happening but more abusive cult bullshit with no real purpose. Trigger warnings for rape, drugs, torture, starvation, child abuse, sexual assault, pedophilia, and violence by the way because no trigger warnings are given and this whole book is focused on this mini cult where all these abuses occur. It was so tedious to pick this up and have another chapter about abuse but it’s ok because it’s for Adder, like I GET IT, they’re in a cult on this island for some reason.
I know there’s a plot in this book I just honestly can’t find it. The twist was also just confusing, there were so many questions, all of them left unanswered. The narrator is a huge part of the twist and it lies in her changing her mindset and leaving the brainwashing but it was unbelievable how it happened. She just woke up on day and decided to not believe in it anymore, after being raised and manipulated and abused her entire childhood she just one day stands up and says “nah”.
Overall, I would skip this earlier novel by Ward which was recently re-released on the states and read her newer works instead that have engaging characters, better pacing, and a clear plot line that doesn’t get muddled up in abuse and cult nonsense.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
goldenas's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
indecisivespice's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, and Self harm
Minor: Pedophilia and Rape
tomatocultivator's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, and Rape
Minor: Self harm
bri_fabiano'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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Minor: War