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jamiecakes0522's review against another edition
3.0
It’s frustrating and annoying when you waste reading time on a book that you don’t end up enjoying.
This one gets 3 stars for the cover and the few decent creepy scenes in the first half of the book.
Otherwise, it’s a 2 star.
The first half was good. Creepy, atmospheric. But, by the second half, I felt like I was reading a different book. It got weird and a sci fi. And I know that horror can have sci fi elements, but this book took a shift in tone that didn’t work.
I also didn’t find any of the three girls exceptionally extraordinary. We are told that they are. Maybe I missed something bc…
It got boring. I skimmed the last 200 pages. It’s also too long.
Personal opinions:
As an adult, it is very uncomfortable to read about teens being intimate. I understand that this is a young adult novel and that it’s technically not written for me. But it’s also a horror novel so I didn’t go into it thinking that teen intimacy would be a part of the plot.
It was too heavy with teen vernacular and angst.
I was looking for a book about three girls who come together and use their power to fight a monster. It did that. In my opinion, not in the best or most exciting way. But, it felt less female empowerment and more hatred of men to me. One big example that stood out was how men were only focused on fighting this monster, not because it was after women, but because it would soon be after men if they didn’t stop it. Unless this is supposed to be hyperbole, that’s a bit of a stretch. {There were several snippets throughout the book that nodded to this theme. Such as, a boy apologizing for “mansplaining” even though the girl asks him to explain something he’s done research on. That’s not even what mansplaining is. The same boy apologizing for men being bad people.}
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This one was not for me.
This one gets 3 stars for the cover and the few decent creepy scenes in the first half of the book.
Otherwise, it’s a 2 star.
The first half was good. Creepy, atmospheric. But, by the second half, I felt like I was reading a different book. It got weird and a sci fi. And I know that horror can have sci fi elements, but this book took a shift in tone that didn’t work.
I also didn’t find any of the three girls exceptionally extraordinary. We are told that they are. Maybe I missed something bc…
It got boring. I skimmed the last 200 pages. It’s also too long.
Personal opinions:
As an adult, it is very uncomfortable to read about teens being intimate. I understand that this is a young adult novel and that it’s technically not written for me. But it’s also a horror novel so I didn’t go into it thinking that teen intimacy would be a part of the plot.
It was too heavy with teen vernacular and angst.
I was looking for a book about three girls who come together and use their power to fight a monster. It did that. In my opinion, not in the best or most exciting way. But, it felt less female empowerment and more hatred of men to me. One big example that stood out was how men were only focused on fighting this monster, not because it was after women, but because it would soon be after men if they didn’t stop it. Unless this is supposed to be hyperbole, that’s a bit of a stretch. {There were several snippets throughout the book that nodded to this theme. Such as, a boy apologizing for “mansplaining” even though the girl asks him to explain something he’s done research on. That’s not even what mansplaining is. The same boy apologizing for men being bad people.}
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This one was not for me.
sneeps's review against another edition
5.0
This book has it all. Horror, battling evil, wlw, asexuality, eldritch abominations, conspiracies, tragedy, hope, female empowerment, a satisfying end. All wrapped up in the main theme "girls are awesome, men suck." What more could you want?
Mini-spoiler: Big Night in the Woods and Buffy season 7 vibes once the plot really gets going
Mini-spoiler: Big Night in the Woods and Buffy season 7 vibes once the plot really gets going
ashley_heuser's review against another edition
3.0
It took me 186 pages to get into this book but once I got into it I really liked it! I felt like it took a long time for the characters to start working together (the first 50
Pages or so was mostly internal dialogue). I also found the dialogue and thought processes difficult to follow.
Overall though, I did enjoy how the girls were empowered to turn their fear into powers and defy the narrative placed upon them. And using the Rock as a character was ingenious.
Pages or so was mostly internal dialogue). I also found the dialogue and thought processes difficult to follow.
Overall though, I did enjoy how the girls were empowered to turn their fear into powers and defy the narrative placed upon them. And using the Rock as a character was ingenious.
getupkid10's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
theliteraryhooker's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Really enjoyed the first 200 pages but after that things kind of derailed for me. I didn't love where the plot ultimately ended up and I found the characters way too catty and self-centered in the face of what they were supposed to be dealing with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Confinement, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Child abuse
sklus's review against another edition
3.0
My neutral rating in no way reflects neutral feelings about this book. There are parts that I really enjoyed. And then there are parts that I deeply despised. Unfortunately for anyone interested in reading this book, only the things I hate are "spoiler-free" as they happen within the first few chapters of the book. The synopsis of the book is a little misleading, in that it makes these three girls seem like a united front fighting against some evil. But in the first few chapters, you learn that Val (the queen) is working for this evil. The synopsis also makes the book seem like some kind of mystery thriller, but from the beginning you learn that the "evil" is some type of supernatural being who controls Val. I didn't mind this part. Would I have preferred more mystery? Maybe. But, I still enjoyed the book while knowing who the bad guy was.
My main problem is that Val is a lesbian (or WLW) who preys on women. One of the earliest girl she lead to the monster AKA to their death, was a girl she had a budding romantic relationship with. At the very least, it felt incredibly tone-deaf to have a lesbian prey on and harm other girls. It plays right into the stereotype of the predatory lesbian. Arguments could be made as to the culpability of Val in her actions, but as far as the reader knows in the first few chapters, Val gets some kind of sick pleasure from manipulating women to their deaths and that does not sit well with me.
Other minor critics are just that the book is cliche and overdone at points. Some times the reactions of characters to situations seem unrealistic and forced to make the plot continue or too add some extra angst. Most examples are spoilers, so I won't go into them, but it felt a little like reading what a 12 year old would imagine a teenaged supernatural adventure would be like.
My favorite part of the book is at the very end, so again it would be a major spoiler. But it's that type of cliche feminism I just love. I think Legrand tried to have good representation of different communities in Sawkill Girls, which I could appreciate. One of the main characters is black and asexual, and the other two main girls are both WLW. So in the end, I think all this adds up to a neutral score for me. It wasn't the best book I've read nor the worst.
My main problem is that Val is a lesbian (or WLW) who preys on women. One of the earliest girl she lead to the monster AKA to their death, was a girl she had a budding romantic relationship with. At the very least, it felt incredibly tone-deaf to have a lesbian prey on and harm other girls. It plays right into the stereotype of the predatory lesbian. Arguments could be made as to the culpability of Val in her actions, but as far as the reader knows in the first few chapters, Val gets some kind of sick pleasure from manipulating women to their deaths and that does not sit well with me.
Other minor critics are just that the book is cliche and overdone at points. Some times the reactions of characters to situations seem unrealistic and forced to make the plot continue or too add some extra angst. Most examples are spoilers, so I won't go into them, but it felt a little like reading what a 12 year old would imagine a teenaged supernatural adventure would be like.
My favorite part of the book is at the very end, so again it would be a major spoiler. But it's that type of cliche feminism I just love.
Spoiler
It reminds me a lot of the cliche feminist ending of the film Black Christmas which I loved a lot more than I should of.sabbypho's review against another edition
5.0
I read the summary and was like “this sounds gay”, come to find out I was correct. This book was absolutely amazing. You don’t see much asexual representation in media so I was pleasantly surprised that they included that on top of having a sapphic relationship
beeeenerys's review against another edition
slow-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? It's complicated
2.75
Enjoyed the premise but not the main character.
I found Marion to be pretty dull, for a character who's supposed to be this emotional rock, her primary mood is pretty passive. The vast majority of her scenes, in my opinion, was about stuff happening to her and her being in distress about it. I wanted to see Marion take more of an active role in the story. That being said I did enjoy Val and Zoe, Val being my favourite, I think she had the most compelling dynamic as a character.
I found Marion to be pretty dull, for a character who's supposed to be this emotional rock, her primary mood is pretty passive. The vast majority of her scenes, in my opinion, was about stuff happening to her and her being in distress about it. I wanted to see Marion take more of an active role in the story. That being said I did enjoy Val and Zoe, Val being my favourite, I think she had the most compelling dynamic as a character.
brynbar2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.75
youngthespian42's review against another edition
5.0
This book absolutely slaps. It’s the kind of the book that makes me mad it falls into “ya” because so many people will avoid it for that reason alone. READ THIS BOOK! It has every thing I love about horror. As soon as you think you know what this book it, it melts into something new and stranger. The character are instantly captivating. This book is about love, loss and grief, redemption, and so much more. This is the kind of book I want to force on everyone in my life so it can be discussed right away.