I may be cold hearted (I’m not) but the main negative review which references a child’s death seems over stated.
I actually didn’t buy the book for MONTHS because I took that review seriously. I didn’t want depressing. However, I love Jeff Hays and soundbooth so I eventually gave in.
Maybe it’s because I fully expected it and the author does signpost the death for the reader in ahead of time so I was REALLY expecting it, but it didn’t seem worse than edgy horror or monster movies. For that matter, it’s not nearly as bad as classics like The Shining.
Point is, a child dies. The author does NOT give excuricating detail about the pain or suffering beyond noting it. There is NO glorification of child torture.
It’s NOT gorn. It’s a medieval story and bad things happen. It’s a sad plot point.
These are great books!
(I do not wish to imply the other reviewer lied. That’s not it. That review is over stated in my opinion.)