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starr2007's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, and Kidnapping
gwenswoons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’m so impressed by a book that both makes its characters do terrible things and makes us root for them anyway. The villain characters are SO FUN in addition to being monstrous and I thought all of the self-referential philosophical and academic nuggets just added to the humor.
January LaVoy is completely amazing narrating the audio — I have loved her work many times before but the disguised voice and all the different characters in this one were SO great and so scary.
It’s so fantastic and also truly grisly. Every possible trigger warning.
I saw some of the turns coming (not way far away, and not in an unpleasant way) but still was TOTALLY thrilled at the dénouement (like, a package got delivered and my dog started barking and I almost passed out from sudden terror 🤣), and thought the pacing of the book was so effective overall. I cannot WAIT to read more Adrian McKinty!!
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
madanxiety's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
This may be the most disturbing book I've ever read. No, actually, I've read Night by Elie Wiesel and a few different narratives of formerly enslaved people. Maybe it's the most disturbing fiction book I've ever read. That doesn't say a whole lot since I know there are much more disturbing books--I'm of the mind that there are too many real-life horrors to stomach fictional ones too. For that reason, I was going to quit the book halfway through, which I don't think I've ever done, if
I'm skeptical about the implications of these kind of books in the same way that I'm skeptical of the true crime genre. I think these things sensationalize interpersonal violence and organized crime, weaving these horrific-yet-juicy narratives that ultimately (1) distract from the state-sanctioned violence that's infinitely more rampant in the US and the world at large, and (2) teach the common people to be fearful of each other, squashing our ability to build trusting community support networks.
I'd have given it 5 stars if it was a more explicit commentary
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Vomit
Minor: Pregnancy
bechlette47's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement and Death of parent
jgwags's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kelseyyreadssbooks'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Murder
taelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
However, it kind of lost me in the second half. The first half focused on the topics I liked. It had great pacing and tension, moments that had me on the edge of my seat, and so many intriguing characters and choices.
The second half had potential because exploring the aftermath of the trauma could have been super interesting but it went in a totally different direction than what I wanted. I thought what the author decided to go with was super unrealistic and overdramatic. Also the characterization of the person running the Chain was just so bad lol.
Also, I thought the ending was
Anyways this could have been a 5 star read but unfortunately the second half of the book knocked it down to a 4 star for me.
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
sammyb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Alcohol
autumnwhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
lycheejelly'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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War