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sharpiemyshoe's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hillaaaa's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rubybereading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"2stars" is kind of generous, but I didn't completely hate it, so less than 2 didn't seem fair.
...Idk. The ending kind of saved it, but I just really didn't enjoy this. It was too long, for one, and very monotonous throughout a good chunk of the middle. Just past the halfway mark, realized that I did not care at all who the murderer was. I didn't like any of the characters, and I was extremely bored. This book was very boring. Its only saving grace is that it was an absolutely NOT predictable at all, and the ending twists were very creative. That saved it from being a complete dud for me. Still, I wasn't entertained at all. Despite all of that, I do want to give the author a second chance. I can tell she's a good writer. This one just wasn't for me.
lzprsn's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
julie_ottosen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sarah_jess1029's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
annagwritesandreads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Note: Liselle always puts content warnings at the beginning of her books. You can also find them on her website: https://lisellesambury.ca/tenderbeasts/
General Description: Sunny Behre believed she'd run her family one day. She's the 4th sibling in a line of 5. After her mother unexpectedly passes away, Sunny was given a singular note from her mother stating she needed to "take care of Dom". Dom is the youngest Behre sibling and is suspected of murder. The entire family has been wary of Dom, but when Sunny finds him over another dead body, Sunny realizes it truly is on her to take care of Dom. Will she be able to protect her family, the people of their community, and herself? Will she be able to find whoever the killer is, or is the killer truly in her own home?
The good:
- The mystery was twisting and turning the entire time. I could have never predicted the ending.
- The rest of the family outside of Dom and Sunny add a layer of complexity to the book that makes the twists hit even harder.
- The school itself was a very interesting setting, considering how the school was created.
- The other students in the school and their perception of the Behre family was a layer of the story i wasn't expecting but appreciated.
The loss of a star:
- A half star off because it was a bit heavy to get through in the beginning. For a standalone, the pacing was a bit off.
- Another half star off because Sunny was just a bit too stuck in her own head for me. It got to the point where it was irritating when she literally cuts someone off before getting an answer that probably would have benefitted her.
Overall, Liselle Sambury does it again. If you want a YA thiller/horror/mystery to add to your TBR that's centered around family, this should be your next addition.
General Description: Sunny Behre believed she'd run her family one day. She's the 4th sibling in a line of 5. After her mother unexpectedly passes away, Sunny was given a singular note from her mother stating she needed to "take care of Dom". Dom is the youngest Behre sibling and is suspected of murder. The entire family has been wary of Dom, but when Sunny finds him over another dead body, Sunny realizes it truly is on her to take care of Dom. Will she be able to protect her family, the people of their community, and herself? Will she be able to find whoever the killer is, or is the killer truly in her own home?
The good:
- The mystery was twisting and turning the entire time. I could have never predicted the ending.
- The rest of the family outside of Dom and Sunny add a layer of complexity to the book that makes the twists hit even harder.
- The school itself was a very interesting setting, considering how the school was created.
- The other students in the school and their perception of the Behre family was a layer of the story i wasn't expecting but appreciated.
The loss of a star:
- A half star off because it was a bit heavy to get through in the beginning. For a standalone, the pacing was a bit off.
- Another half star off because Sunny was just a bit too stuck in her own head for me. It got to the point where it was irritating when she literally cuts someone off before getting an answer that probably would have benefitted her.
Overall, Liselle Sambury does it again. If you want a YA thiller/horror/mystery to add to your TBR that's centered around family, this should be your next addition.
thebookishnarwhal's review against another edition
5.0
This story is a haunting thriller who unveils dark secrets. In “Tender Beasts” by Liselle Sambury, secrets stretch across generations and leave a trail of unanswered questions… and blood.
Meet Sunny Behre: a student at an exclusive private school who is thrust into a nightmare when her world collides with murder. The death of her mother shatters the illusion of perfection and her mother's cryptic final words plunge her into a web of intrigue.
Meet Dom: the youngest brother of Sunny who stands accused of murder. Sunny's loyalty is torn: should she protect the family legacy or seek the truth? The urgency intensifies when another classmate is brutally killed and readers embark on a perilous journey, unearthing buried secrets along the way.
Sambury builds tension like an expert as characters race against time while navigating a maze of lies, betrayal, and hidden agendas. The supernatural elements woven into the narrative add an eerie layer, leaving this reader with goosebumps.
I love how we get to explore identity, privilege, and the weight of generational trauma. Sambury tackles race and class dynamics with poise, exposing the fault lines within the affluent world. Prepare to be haunted by family secrets as Sambury's prose walks a tightrope between reality and the supernatural. As they turn the pages, readers will grapple with their defining choices and be left wondering if redemption is possible… even for the most tender of beasts?
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Margaret K. McElderry Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Meet Sunny Behre: a student at an exclusive private school who is thrust into a nightmare when her world collides with murder. The death of her mother shatters the illusion of perfection and her mother's cryptic final words plunge her into a web of intrigue.
Meet Dom: the youngest brother of Sunny who stands accused of murder. Sunny's loyalty is torn: should she protect the family legacy or seek the truth? The urgency intensifies when another classmate is brutally killed and readers embark on a perilous journey, unearthing buried secrets along the way.
Sambury builds tension like an expert as characters race against time while navigating a maze of lies, betrayal, and hidden agendas. The supernatural elements woven into the narrative add an eerie layer, leaving this reader with goosebumps.
I love how we get to explore identity, privilege, and the weight of generational trauma. Sambury tackles race and class dynamics with poise, exposing the fault lines within the affluent world. Prepare to be haunted by family secrets as Sambury's prose walks a tightrope between reality and the supernatural. As they turn the pages, readers will grapple with their defining choices and be left wondering if redemption is possible… even for the most tender of beasts?
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Margaret K. McElderry Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.