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mousereads's Reviews (2.14k)
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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I hear a book referred to as feminist horror, there is always some concern that it will try to shove the message in my face. However, this book creeps up on you in a way that is jarring. Lila's anger starts to feel all-encompassing, something familiar and sharp. Caroline's trauma responses to the world around her feel equally familiar. The two sides of this coin are clear, the youthful anger of teen girls and the traumatized reactions to the things this can cause.
This book makes you question, should women live life in fear of consequences for not being polite, and kind? It reminded me of the song "Fire Drills" by Dessa. The idea that we are worth more than vigilance. The horror was haunting, the monsters something that kept me up at night. The message was clear, but if an in-your-face ideology is not your thing, there's enough horror and blood here to keep you reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I hear a book referred to as feminist horror, there is always some concern that it will try to shove the message in my face. However, this book creeps up on you in a way that is jarring. Lila's anger starts to feel all-encompassing, something familiar and sharp. Caroline's trauma responses to the world around her feel equally familiar. The two sides of this coin are clear, the youthful anger of teen girls and the traumatized reactions to the things this can cause.
This book makes you question, should women live life in fear of consequences for not being polite, and kind? It reminded me of the song "Fire Drills" by Dessa. The idea that we are worth more than vigilance. The horror was haunting, the monsters something that kept me up at night. The message was clear, but if an in-your-face ideology is not your thing, there's enough horror and blood here to keep you reading.
No. Absolutely not.
"Slow burn" implies that something interesting happens. Something interesting does not include inappropriate relationships with children and hints towards incest. Something interesting also does not include insurance plots, because that would be a domestic thriller, not a "dark, gritty, thriller." Hyper-sexualizing ballet ain't it, and realistically, the only reason we know it was about ballet was because of how Abbott used it as the backdrop for incest, child molest, and one caricature of a bad guy.
This book was dull and felt gross to read. I need a shower.
"Slow burn" implies that something interesting happens. Something interesting does not include inappropriate relationships with children and hints towards incest. Something interesting also does not include insurance plots, because that would be a domestic thriller, not a "dark, gritty, thriller." Hyper-sexualizing ballet ain't it, and realistically, the only reason we know it was about ballet was because of how Abbott used it as the backdrop for incest, child molest, and one caricature of a bad guy.
This book was dull and felt gross to read. I need a shower.
plz I am so tired of characters who just have the emotional depths of a puddle and the self-awareness of a rock. like, the only decently behaved character is Rhodes.
Sarah and Illiana are so toxic it's gross the entire book. And I'm supposed to be...rooting for Illiana and slowly grow to love Rhodes? I get that these are teenagers, so some communication and actions align with the lack of maturity there-
This had potential, but the POV's sound like the same character and it's because our main characters are flat, and thus the two POV's could literally just be one well-developed character.
Sarah and Illiana are so toxic it's gross the entire book. And I'm supposed to be...rooting for Illiana and slowly grow to love Rhodes? I get that these are teenagers, so some communication and actions align with the lack of maturity there-
Spoiler
but I would not be apologizing to my "best friend" for what Sarah did. Sabotaging me instead of communicating? You'd never get an apology from me.This had potential, but the POV's sound like the same character and it's because our main characters are flat, and thus the two POV's could literally just be one well-developed character.
