Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Four by Ellie Keel

12 reviews

_bird_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

Wow. I wasn't expecting this book to turn out the way that it did. I can’t remember the last time I got emotional over a book but this left me with watery eyes. The author does an impeccable job at telling the story of four hopeful, vastly different yet similar kids who embark on their journey at a boarding school that they hope will change their lives for the better. What happens in the time that they are at High Realms is so heart breaking relatable, so devastating, it’s a roller coaster of emotions that make you question how far you would go to protect your friends and those you love. It also paints a very raw and brutal portrait of what unchecked trauma does to a person especially when it’s compounded with events that continue to tear you apart. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

An atmospheric and intensely foreboding, dark academia that follows four scholarship students and their often brutal experiences at a prestigious boarding school at the turn of the millennium (‘99-00.) 

I did enjoy this as the writing was soo compulsive, with its vividly descriptive (slow burn) exploration of the each of the characters’ experiences at High Realms and the systemic failures of the UK’s private education system. But, it was quite tough to get through emotionally, as soo many of the themes and events centre around pretty dark/ bleak topics. As such I’d definitely recommend checking out the TWs first, as I did find quite a few scenes pretty harrowing. 

I wasn’t nearly as diligent and found myself struggling to continue (particularly in the second half), mostly as I was a sobbing (and slightly traumatised) mess by then.

That being said, the depth and emotions Ellie Keel infuses into her characters (Rose, Marta, Lloyd and Sami) was phenomenal and really helped to pull me through, as I was soo invested in seeing how things would pan out for them. 

If you loved The Secret History or If We Were Villains then I definitely recommend checking this out! 

Also a huge thank you to Harper Collins UK for my giveaway win of the proof. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, and Suicide

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Vomit

Minor: Child abuse and Mental illness

jaimeelou's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Abortion

staxreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

It was a bit of a weird one and I'm not sure how to rate it as a whole. I was oddly hooked on this book yet felt little / no connection to any of the characters. The story was gripping yet I felt that the 'serious' parts were over the top and unnecessarily violent. Honestly there were times when I wasn't sure that I wanted to continue reading, yet I could not bring myself to put the book down.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sophiehalliwel's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Alcoholism

shadymist's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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? N/A

4.5

I enjoyed this book very much. It’s been widely praised on TikTok and I can see why. A fantastic read and hard to put down. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying and Child death

Minor: Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

romy91's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Dark, twisty and emotional.
Some complex and difficult topics explored but with compelling and thoughtful writing. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

booknerdcoco's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

OK firstly. This book needs a list of trigger warnings. I was so disappointed that one wasn't supplied in the book or online, especially given  the graphic content of the book. My concern is that a younger reader may pick this book up - it is set in a sixth form, which may lead one to believe it is a YA novel. It is NOT!! 

This is a very dark and explicit thriller. Was it good? Yes. Was it great? I don't think so.

Whilst the plot itself is decent, the text can be confusing in parts. I understand that the author was trying to keep things mysterious. But honestly, I just felt that it didn't land in places.

The story follows the life of four scholarship students as they embark on a scholarship in a rural boarding school
 There appears to be no leadership, and the bullying is rife. Due to the vulnerable nature of the students and the negligence of the staff, thigns soon take a turn for the worst. And somebody is accused of a crime, which then leads to even darker revelations.

I felt like the story could have been shortened in places. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only to the right reader. This story isn't for the faint of heart, and as previously mentioned, it could be  triggering for some due to the content.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Pregnancy

tbrhannah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

beautifully written, dark, cruel book. i could almost never guess where this was going. a few things didn’t make sense but overall great read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Body horror, Fatphobia, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cancer, Abortion, and Abandonment

khadijah98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, and Rape