Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Four by Ellie Keel

35 reviews

bookdreamer2024's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Vomit

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.

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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

tiasy97's review against another edition

3.5

I’m not really sure what to say about this one, this story is just devastatingly sad. no one is particularly a good person, all of them are a little bit shitty… except for marta. Her story is so so so sad, I was tempted to DNF at one point because of what the author was putting her through, it seemed to be so unnecessary to put her through all of the trauma and to just keep piling on top of it constantly. 
The story also didn’t really seem to have a route at times either which made bits quite boring.

check your trigger warnings for this one, it is VERY triggering. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault

abigailwaugh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicide

3 vivid mentions of rape

readwithsophsx's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

oncemorewithreading's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Incest, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Grief

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. 

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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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, and Rape

katiewhocanread's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism

emmymk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Violence, and Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Drug use, Incest, Mental illness, and Abortion