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A review by mixeterna
Come Closer by Sara Gran
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A quick and interesting read with a writing style I found immersive. The plot was intriguing and, while predictable at points, still had me holding out hope for the characters. I love the concept of a gradual possession that could be attributed to just a change in personality, by both others and yourself. I didn't find it particularly scary, however, and I would describe it more as an unsettling suspense than a horror. Overall enjoyable for the length.
Sadly, the ending felt cliché to me and was a bit disappointing.Amanda's relationship with Ed, while they had their happy moments, read to me as consistently strained since before her possession, so the overwhelmingly romantic notions towards him came across very forced. Maybe that's the point - that she doesn't care about her grievances with him anymore since her life was completely destroyed by Naamah. But to me it felt a bit cheesy, and the last line just confused me. It's a shame because I really enjoyed the chapter directly before it, where Naamah had almost completely taken over and we only got glimpses of her life between blackouts. It could have been more powerful and unsettling if it stuck with that.
There was a semi-frequent use of homophobic slurs throughout, including in the very first scene, and some racist rhetoric which was never really addressed. The main character isn't painted as a likeable person, but it still made me pause and wonder whether this was a reflection of her character or just the author. There was also a conflation between demonic possession and mental illness at points,especially since she ends up institutionalised at the end , which strays into dangerous ideas around things like psychosis and DID. This brought my enjoyment for it down a lot.
Sadly, the ending felt cliché to me and was a bit disappointing.
There was a semi-frequent use of homophobic slurs throughout, including in the very first scene, and some racist rhetoric which was never really addressed. The main character isn't painted as a likeable person, but it still made me pause and wonder whether this was a reflection of her character or just the author. There was also a conflation between demonic possession and mental illness at points,
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Racism, Vomit, and Kidnapping
Increasing depictions of murder and gore towards the end of the book. Body horror, again more towards the end. Cursing throughout. Some mentions of characters vomiting. Use of homophobic slurs and at a few points some stereotyped depictions of people of colour. Mention of kidnapping.
Graphically described instance of child abuse with a brief mention of parental abuse: At one point, a child is purposely and repeatedly pushed underwater to drown, but is saved. The child is also described to have experienced "worse at home".
Sexual violence with heavily blurred lines of consent: Naamah, while possessing Amanda, has sex with people and Amanda is often only acutely aware or completely blacked out. She describes being disgusted with it and herself afterwards.