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stardustandrockets's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
theninthbow_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Omg I loved this! It’s a perfectly written novella. We get to know the characters so well in such a short amount of time, and the plot that develops is so well done - a combination of action that further deepens character even as it uncovers truths.
This also has some of my favorite biological horror aspects… I don’t want to give anything away, but I loved it.
I’ve seen a few reviews that say the ending is way too abrupt and you’re yanked out of the story. I don’t think that’s true at all. Clues are revealed throughout the entire novella about what could plausibly happen, and enough language and context clues are given to understand what’s going to happen next with all the characters… even if one may be a little ambiguous, there are enough clues there to give you a hint about what is going to happen after this novella ends.
This is a masterly crafted piece of short fiction. If you want a quick read that has well-crafted characters, a mystery plot that’s revealed at a perfect pace, and some feelings of dread and anticipation, read this.
This also has some of my favorite biological horror aspects… I don’t want to give anything away, but I loved it.
I’ve seen a few reviews that say the ending is way too abrupt and you’re yanked out of the story. I don’t think that’s true at all. Clues are revealed throughout the entire novella about what could plausibly happen, and enough language and context clues are given to understand what’s going to happen next with all the characters… even if one may be a little ambiguous, there are enough clues there to give you a hint about what is going to happen after this novella ends.
This is a masterly crafted piece of short fiction. If you want a quick read that has well-crafted characters, a mystery plot that’s revealed at a perfect pace, and some feelings of dread and anticipation, read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
ejjuchau's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, and Medical content
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
egganimates's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.25
I really enjoyed M.L. Rio’s ability to write such strong character. I honestly wish there was more of an ending because the first few chapters were really strong but almost as soon as Kinnan was interrogated by Hannah the plot just sort of… Ended?
There didn’t feel like there was a satisfying conclusion to the story but overall as a Novella I loved it.
There didn’t feel like there was a satisfying conclusion to the story but overall as a Novella I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, and Medical trauma
thepunkyduckling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Medical content
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Drug use, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
tacochelle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC.
You think you're cruising along through a spooky thriller/mystery, then BAM! Suprise Fungi! Spreading their spores through horror, fantasy, and science fiction alike, no genre is safe!
I kid, but also didn't expect the fungal stuff... despite the mushrooms on the cover, I am not very attentive. It's a compelling mystery with an interesting set of characters at its core, but it wraps up too quickly before we can really get into them. Especially once you get into Hannah's pov, the real horror is only ever implied with her experiences, and it would have benefitted from a few more chapters so we can actually see it.
You think you're cruising along through a spooky thriller/mystery, then BAM! Suprise Fungi! Spreading their spores through horror, fantasy, and science fiction alike, no genre is safe!
I kid, but also didn't expect the fungal stuff... despite the mushrooms on the cover, I am not very attentive. It's a compelling mystery with an interesting set of characters at its core, but it wraps up too quickly before we can really get into them. Especially once you get into Hannah's pov, the real horror is only ever implied with her experiences, and it would have benefitted from a few more chapters so we can actually see it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Medical content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cannibalism
chris_reads's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This feels like part of a larger story. The plot and characters were great, there should just be more of it. It could seriously be a fave if it was like twice as long.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, and Drug use
Minor: Alcohol and Injury/Injury detail
sxndaze's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
a motley crew that goes on to investigate a mystery and ends up uncovering something larger? that’s my kind of thriller! i love larger casts of characters and getting to spend a bit of time with each one of them was a delight. i could have read about them for even longer, but condensing it to a novella is nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Cannibalism
mehooleygan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Gore, and Medical content
Minor: Drug use
karin_goodreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I went into this looking for M. L. Rio's unique style and found something not quite that level. I have read "If We Were Villains" before, and I loved that book. I didn't particularly expect anything from this book, but somehow I'm still left dissatisfied.
The whole story takes place over one night, well, the uncovering part, and we get to meet and learn about these different people who all have a connection (spoiler: it's smoking). We follow them around for the night and see how the story unfurls from their perspective (yes, it's multiple POVs). It's a lot to take in for such a short book: the mystery, the medical and scientific information, and the characters whose personal stories we get glimpses into. All of them were very different, which was great for fast differentiation.
The mystery and tense atmosphere were very nice for a read in the evenings. I liked the suspense and the fact that the reader kind of figures out the story as it unfolds. First it seems like a story of people who are just living their life with all its complicated shades, but then it turns into a one-night hunt after a story to unveil.
The thing is... I don't love anything particular about this book, but there's also nothing to hate about it. What did upset me was the length, more precisely the ending. I felt like I just got cut off, as if some chapters were left unread. It felt like the author was pulling all the strings tight together to tell the story and then randomly let go, and it was just, poof, over. On the other hand, I didn't mind the pacing before that; the multiple perspectives and time flow were good enough.
Maybe that's just what it needed to be. A story of five paths crossing and how (and if) they continue to do so. Either way, I'm going to wipe my hands clean of this story and leave it where it started.
The whole story takes place over one night, well, the uncovering part, and we get to meet and learn about these different people who all have a connection (spoiler: it's smoking). We follow them around for the night and see how the story unfurls from their perspective (yes, it's multiple POVs). It's a lot to take in for such a short book: the mystery, the medical and scientific information, and the characters whose personal stories we get glimpses into. All of them were very different, which was great for fast differentiation.
The mystery and tense atmosphere were very nice for a read in the evenings. I liked the suspense and the fact that the reader kind of figures out the story as it unfolds. First it seems like a story of people who are just living their life with all its complicated shades, but then it turns into a one-night hunt after a story to unveil.
The thing is... I don't love anything particular about this book, but there's also nothing to hate about it. What did upset me was the length, more precisely the ending. I felt like I just got cut off, as if some chapters were left unread. It felt like the author was pulling all the strings tight together to tell the story and then randomly let go, and it was just, poof, over. On the other hand, I didn't mind the pacing before that; the multiple perspectives and time flow were good enough.
Maybe that's just what it needed to be. A story of five paths crossing and how (and if) they continue to do so. Either way, I'm going to wipe my hands clean of this story and leave it where it started.
What happens in the graveyard stays in the graveyard.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Violence, and Medical content
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, and Cannibalism
human experimentation