Scan barcode
smolfrog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
There are a few interesting nuggets around the theme of living with grief after unimaginable loss, but it kind of gets buried under the "shocking" sex magic of it all.
The twist with
I like stories about a lost, mysterious or "cursed" film/book with dark knowledge, but this one failed to totally live up to the premise. It's a decent thriller though.
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, and Grief
danajoy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
I think people who liked The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz would probably like this one.
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Dementia, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Stalking
Minor: Vomit
samisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Dementia
Moderate: Murder
joykeya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I didn't like the writing style and everything just felt a bit icky?
Also this book is not a horror or thriller at all, I genuinely don't know why it's marketed like that. It's quite misleading
I only kept reading cus I hated the main characters and wanted them to not get their happy ending.
This book is not what I expected and maybe just wasn't for me but the last 20 pages added an extra star to my rating
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
thereadinghammock's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
First, for the money. Then for the adventure. Finally, for the chance to get her husband back. Every challenge along the way adds a new layer of wild mystery to the mythos and lore of this sacred and accursed book. The culmination of the hint for the book felt completely inevitable but also still managed to catch me a bit by surprise, which was just a delight. And the "magic always comes with a price" result felt apropos while still bittersweet.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Murder, and Toxic friendship
archaicrobin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite her hardships Lily is devoted to her husband and finding a way to help him. So when she’s offered over a million dollars for a rare occult book on sex magic, she teams up with a colleague and friend, Lucas, to find the book. What unfolds is a journey across the country to locate the book and find herself.
This book is very slow paced so if you start it, know it’s a crawl and it’s also very disturbing at times. As Lily continues searching for the book her and Lucas begin attempting it’s magic as well, which leads them to many dark and weird places. Hedonist mansions, sec magic, disgustingly rich men, it’s all pretty out there and unsettling but I loved it.
This book is not for everyone, it’s not fast paced or super exciting, it’s an atmospheric and tragic love story with elements of horror that weave together themes of loss, grief, devotion, and finding a reason to live once yours is gone. If you’re up for that, I highly recommend!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Rape
professor_jango's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Gore, Sexual violence, and Violence
thecatconstellation'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
babayagaofficial'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
Graphic: Sexual content, Dementia, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
I loved this book overall. Occasionally the way that Lily talked about Abel — her husband suffering from dementia who is unable to care for himself and does not respond or communicate — was pretty painful to read. She loves him very much and is devoted to his care, but at a few points there are some ableist sentiments (“burden,” “drooling thing”) that readers who are sensitive to such things should be aware of.takarakei'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
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness and Grief
Minor: Drug use, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder