Reviews

This was way too long for what it was, the plot was incredibly simple idk how it stretched on for so gd long. The first half was addictive, and then he lost me, and then the ending got me again but just not enough for me to think this was good. The characters were flat and stereotypical even tho the writing was good? Idk
Would make a great show for tweens tho and a good read if you want to shut off your brain.

Content Warnings

joe_couture's review

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adventurous 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

4.75

bookish_spren's review

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White author that uses racist language and stereotypical tropes. No thanks.

wherethereadergrows's review against another edition

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4.0

OK readers – I am officially a full fledged Philip Fracassi fan. I’m mad at all of you (feel my eyes as I point to each of y’all) for not telling me to read more of him earlier! I had read Boys In The Valley last summer and really enjoyed that one. Then I saw A CHILD ALONE WITH STRANGERS on @librofm and immediately pressed that download button. I did think this was a new release but it was actually published a couple of years ago and the audiobook is now available with Sterling Boyns as the narrator and omg, he did such an amazing job. I would probably listen to anything he narrates going forward.

This book is about Henry, a young boy that is kidnapped and taken to a remote farmhouse that happens to house an ancient creature who is not happy to have new inhabitants. Henry and this creature have a connection and his captors just may be in way over their head. This is a bit of slow burn at first with Fracassi building up the suspense and laying down the foundation for the weird shit that happens later. A bookstagrammer messaged saying it looked creepy and I was over halfway and there was nothing creepy happening…. but I spoke too soon. Things quickly went sideways. I was hooked into this story. I was instantly enamored with Henry and needed to see what was going to happen to him. Now, we’ve seen the mind-reading kid scenario before and there are a few other things that aren’t exactly new to this genre. While that thought flickered through my head as I was listening to this, I was happy with the author’s direction of the story. I did want a bit more of the ancient creature but I mean, who doesn’t? 😉

I’m not entirely sure how I felt about the ending over all, which is the only thing keeping this from a 5 star read for me. You’ll like this book if you want a dark and emotional story that examines the connection between a young boy and a mysterious creature in an isolated atmosphere. Fracassi is officially an autobuy author for me now.

chellecmorgan's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

petrichordia13's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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