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podanotherjessi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I feel like I'm going to sit with this book in my mind for a very long time and never actually understand it. And there's nothing wrong with that.
I wouldn't recommend this for plot readers. Not a lot happens in this book, and the structure is weird. It's all about the characters, specifically the lead. You're in her head dealing with her confusion, and it's pretty great.
Also, for me, the depiction of stressful, exclusive, small college pressure was just very, very well done. I've known people that handled college like almost every one of these characters. It was a highlight to read for sure.
I wouldn't recommend this for plot readers. Not a lot happens in this book, and the structure is weird. It's all about the characters, specifically the lead. You're in her head dealing with her confusion, and it's pretty great.
Also, for me, the depiction of stressful, exclusive, small college pressure was just very, very well done. I've known people that handled college like almost every one of these characters. It was a highlight to read for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Grief
typedtruths's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i didn't think it was that weird?? but i loved it
➸ Trigger warnings forslut shaming, dubcon scenes, suicide, alcohol consumption & abuse, emesis, medical examination, unethical human medical experimentation, needles, grief depiction, death of a sister mentioned, death of a best friend & classmate, captivity & forced isolation, and animal experimentation & injury .
▷ Representation: Ines (mc) is Black & queer; queer & bipoc scs.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Goodreads • Twitter • Instagram
➸ Trigger warnings for
▷ Representation: Ines (mc) is Black & queer; queer & bipoc scs.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Goodreads • Twitter • Instagram
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Medical content
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, and Vomit
ldandridge's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was really excited based on the description but it ended up just being meh. Nothing really seemed to progress much, and I was hoping for something much spookier. I liked the writing and the setting though. Lots of potential that ended up just falling flat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Medical content
motherelectricity's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
was that a fever dream or i've actually read that?
Ines was the weirdest main character, there literally was no personality or drive but it also worked perfectly for this story? Confusing open ending, no thorough explanation of the weirdness, creepy ass atmosphere and culty shit - yesss?? fun, awesome, amazing??
But the biggest wtf of this book wasn't any of that. it's these.. um, brilliant, inspiring quotes:
Ines was the weirdest main character, there literally was no personality or drive but it also worked perfectly for this story? Confusing open ending, no thorough explanation of the weirdness, creepy ass atmosphere and culty shit - yesss?? fun, awesome, amazing??
But the biggest wtf of this book wasn't any of that. it's these.. um, brilliant, inspiring quotes:
- "I didn't like the cookies. Every time I ate them, my stomach filled with unsettled dread."
- "By afternoon, the first flakes fell. They multiplied like a cancer on the glass."
- "I paced from one wall to the next. I took nervous shits."
- "I was sad like a vacuum was sad."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Death
legxleg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
coolmombeck's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I can understand why many seem to dislike this book because it's not for everyone. The writing does seem disjointed, and the characters can seem unlikable. I see it as Ines is also disjointed and doesn't seem to be able to like or forgive herself for past mistakes. She believes that hiding at Catherine House and her addiction to sex will heal and help her forget her past. While, at times, the book seemed to drag, it was well written and kept me interested. I would read another book from Elisabeth Thomas, as I enjoyed this one quite a bit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma
Minor: Animal death, Death, and Sexual content
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is such a weird ass book, and I kind of love it? It's definitely lodged itself inside of me and I think I'll be carrying it with me for a while. I've heard people say this book wasn't really a mystery and that the main character was unlikable, and I don't think I agree? We find out what the mysteries of the house are, and I thought the main character did pretty well considering she was being drugged? mind-controlled? whatever during most of her time at the house. She actually got more interested in figuring out what was up during that time. She broke into the lab!
Also:
Fuck Theo
Also:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
Minor: Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
maiagaia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"When did I realize that Catherine would never let me go?"
TL;DR Read this book if you want an atmospheric dark academia mystery with some really horrifying and creepy elements that includes beautifully realized and complex characters. Don't read this if you have to agree with/love your protagonist or if you are looking for something with a fast-moving plot.
Now onto some more in-depth thoughts.
Wow. Where to begin. This is a stunning book.
The most amazing accomplishment was the atmosphere Elisabeth Thomas was able to craft here. This book is gorgeously written without being overwrought. Others have criticized it by saying nothing happens, that there is no plot, and I am honestly confused by those assertions. No, this is not a thriller. It's not action-packed or filled with page after page of jump scares. Instead, it is a spiral of dread that leads to a bone-chilling but quiet climax.
The characters, particularly the protagonist Ines, have so much depth. I loved each and every one of them. Ines has been criticized for being unlikeable, but I don't see that. No, she doesn't always make the "right" decisions, and yes, she does some bad things, but she is a fully realized human. I ached for her situation. It's very clear that she is suffering with some sort of cocktail of depression and trauma for basically the entire novel and that informs her actions (and more often, her inaction.) Without getting into too much detail, her relationship with Baby in particular absolutely broke my heart, and that only happened because Elisabeth Thomas made both of those characters feel like real people to me, so I couldn't help but care about them. (Side note: someone else said Ines seemed more interested in sleeping with every boy in the school than with anything else, and I take deep offense to that. She was more interested in sleeping with every PERSON in the school than with anything else. Ines is a bisexual icon. You can't change my mind.)
"I used to believe the house was haunted. Really, it was the other way around; the house haunted me."
TL;DR Read this book if you want an atmospheric dark academia mystery with some really horrifying and creepy elements that includes beautifully realized and complex characters. Don't read this if you have to agree with/love your protagonist or if you are looking for something with a fast-moving plot.
Now onto some more in-depth thoughts.
Wow. Where to begin. This is a stunning book.
The most amazing accomplishment was the atmosphere Elisabeth Thomas was able to craft here. This book is gorgeously written without being overwrought. Others have criticized it by saying nothing happens, that there is no plot, and I am honestly confused by those assertions. No, this is not a thriller. It's not action-packed or filled with page after page of jump scares. Instead, it is a spiral of dread that leads to a bone-chilling but quiet climax.
The characters, particularly the protagonist Ines, have so much depth. I loved each and every one of them. Ines has been criticized for being unlikeable, but I don't see that. No, she doesn't always make the "right" decisions, and yes, she does some bad things, but she is a fully realized human. I ached for her situation. It's very clear that she is suffering with some sort of cocktail of depression and trauma for basically the entire novel and that informs her actions (and more often, her inaction.) Without getting into too much detail, her relationship with Baby in particular absolutely broke my heart, and that only happened because Elisabeth Thomas made both of those characters feel like real people to me, so I couldn't help but care about them. (Side note: someone else said Ines seemed more interested in sleeping with every boy in the school than with anything else, and I take deep offense to that. She was more interested in sleeping with every PERSON in the school than with anything else. Ines is a bisexual icon. You can't change my mind.)
"I used to believe the house was haunted. Really, it was the other way around; the house haunted me."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Suicide
babayagaofficial's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Medical trauma
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Emotional abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship