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haliblik's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Minor: Child abuse and Murder
kalea17's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Murder
magyklyxdelish's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Damn. I may have predicted a few things but there were still a couple surprises. Didn’t take away from how hauntingly beautiful and disgusting this was. Man I loved this so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Cannibalism, Sexual content, Murder, Confinement, and Torture
ripxw's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism
eveningjaye's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
this book was written kind of as a sapphic homage to the NBC series Hannibal and as a fan of the show, i can assure you that that shows and it reads a lot like some fanfics for the series that i've read, so this is a fun read if you also like the show. i had a lot of fun 'bingo' moments where i noticed that Dawson was referencing the series.
however, Ash is more clearly a 'bad guy' in the book than the show paints Hannibal--that doesn't have to be a negative thing but since Dawson tells us that she wanted to write a hot female serial killer to show her daughter that they don't always have to be men, i think going in a more morally grey direction with Ash and Ro's relationship would have worked better because Ash is an abusive partner and, unlike in Hannibal,Ro doesn't choose to be with her but instead gets physically trapped.
you root for both Hannibal and Will in the show, but in the book you're really only rooting for Ro because of how the relationship and Ash are framed. Ro is clearly a victim of Ash whereas the show subverts that dynamic in the following season. so if you're expecting or hoping for an ending like Hannibal or Killing Eve season 3, you will be disappointed.
---
just as a footnote, i know quite a few people in the reviews are complaining about how there are no sex scenes but just fading to black and wondering why that is and i just wanted to add that if an author is writing an adult novel and does not want to write sex scenes, they don't need to justify that. if you are writing adult fiction and aren't comfortable with writing sex, it's perfectly fine to not. you don't need sex in your story just because you're writing books for adults. there's plenty of sensuality between the two characters and you know that they're sleeping with each other. the lack of sex scenes did not bother me at all and it's not homophobic to simply cut to black.
however, Ash is more clearly a 'bad guy' in the book than the show paints Hannibal--that doesn't have to be a negative thing but since Dawson tells us that she wanted to write a hot female serial killer to show her daughter that they don't always have to be men, i think going in a more morally grey direction with Ash and Ro's relationship would have worked better because Ash is an abusive partner and, unlike in Hannibal,
you root for both Hannibal and Will in the show, but in the book you're really only rooting for Ro because of how the relationship and Ash are framed. Ro is clearly a victim of Ash whereas the show subverts that dynamic in the following season. so if you're expecting or hoping for an ending like Hannibal or Killing Eve season 3, you will be disappointed.
---
just as a footnote, i know quite a few people in the reviews are complaining about how there are no sex scenes but just fading to black and wondering why that is and i just wanted to add that if an author is writing an adult novel and does not want to write sex scenes, they don't need to justify that. if you are writing adult fiction and aren't comfortable with writing sex, it's perfectly fine to not. you don't need sex in your story just because you're writing books for adults. there's plenty of sensuality between the two characters and you know that they're sleeping with each other. the lack of sex scenes did not bother me at all and it's not homophobic to simply cut to black.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Cannibalism
Moderate: Body horror and Murder
kay_chan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Think "A Simple Favor" crossed with T Kingfisher and Butcher/Blackbird.
Great vibes, but a bit too predictable for me. By 30% in I had figured out the ending. Last chapter was 10/10 unhinged.
Great vibes, but a bit too predictable for me. By 30% in I had figured out the ending. Last chapter was 10/10 unhinged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Cannibalism
c_leen_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So good. Not usually a horror fan but this did it for me. The writing sometimes pulled me out of the story and the ending was a little hamfisted/villain monologuey, but still thoroughly enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Fatphobia and Vomit
Minor: Self harm and Sexual violence
peakoldladylife's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault and Child abuse
daffodilcherry's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Impeccable novella that is quite literally a cottage core lesbian horror. There is an unmistakable tension throughout the entire book, masked by gorgeous writing. It perfectly captures obsessive love, how easy it is to wave away red flags (but girl there were some red flags) and the romantisation of cottagecore/how real life rural living is a bit different. Also a master class in how to gorgeously describe things without purple prose. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but it fitted the story.
Wheelhouses: obsessive lesbian love, beautiful descriptions of food/gardens, "something is messed up here and the main character can't see it.", horny lesbians.
Wheelhouses: obsessive lesbian love, beautiful descriptions of food/gardens, "something is messed up here and the main character can't see it.", horny lesbians.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Blood, Murder, Gore, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse
Additional/specific trigger warnings:caileigh's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I can’t remember how I found this book, but I’m so glad I did. Actually loved it. I need Elle fanning to play ash in the movie, please.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Cannibalism
Moderate: Body horror and Animal death