Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Island by Adrian McKinty

8 reviews

princess_marie's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Death, Murder, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Animal death, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Body horror, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Cursing, Sexual violence, Suicide, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Vomit

lexithelion's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

This book is SO good I could not put it down. I had a tough time deciding between it being character or plot-driven because the plot of this book is so straightforward, driving, and easy to feel and understand but ultimately the characters' growth describes their choices and makes me feel tense. We begin with a seemingly normal and very realistic family that ends up in a very 0-100 tense situation and the terror is real. The way that Tom's true character comes to fruition lines up with how Heather would experience finding out who he truly is. The book's resolution is extremely satisfying and every character arc feels real. I love the potential super-naturalness that occurs from the islander's perspective, viewing Heather as a sort of Karma for their past sins. Excellent book; would read again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Rape, Stalking, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Gore, Violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Torture, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, Infidelity, Excrement, Medical content, and Vomit

This is a very dark book. There is only peaceful bliss in the very last chapter. Please see my content warning tags for dark themes in this book.

dev921's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Rape, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Gun violence, Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Violence, Mental illness, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Vomit, Drug use, Blood, and Car accident

sasoif's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Fast paced and grabbed me from page 1. Always wanted to read just one more chapter. Rollercoaster type emotions and full of action. Highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Child abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Animal death, Body horror, Car accident, Death of parent, Gore, and Blood

lindsaybarrows's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Animal death, Grief, Car accident, Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Body horror, and Gun violence

Moderate: Rape and Genocide

batcaves's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Rape, Torture, Abandonment, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Gun violence, and Racism

soobooksalot's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Are you a seasonal reader?
If you are like me, The Island makes for a great segue between summer vacay and eerie fall.
Adrian McKinty's latest thriller plays out like a movie, with vivid locations and action all through. 
The Baxter family has seen many changes, with the recent death of their mother and remarriage of father Tom to much-younger Heather. Teens Owen and Olivia are adjusting to it all, and the family embarks on a trip to Australia for business and sightseeing.
Their quest for adventure (well, koalas) takes them a bit too far off the beaten path and right into the hands of danger on an island inhabited by a dangerous group. 
The Island is a definite page-turner; an atmospheric thriller/survival story. The only drawback for me was that I didn't connect with any of the characters.
Regardless - recommended!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Car accident

wulfhorstmom's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Murder, Animal death, Car accident, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence