Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

139 reviews

marissa_nancy_nicole's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Mental illness, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Torture, Physical abuse, and Stalking

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Gun violence, Vomit, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt

jane_moriarty's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

1.0

Charlie, our main character, is not like the other girls. No, Charlie is way dumber. In fact she is so stupid that only a man could have written her. I mean what woman in the universe would get into a car with a total stranger to drive through an isolated mountain area in the middle of the night, and only hours into the drive stops to consider that this man might want to rape or murder her? Let alone what woman whose roommate was murdered mere weeks ago by a so called 'campus killer' who she knows is still on the loose? After he's been basically given her hints the whole time that he is a shady bastard? She didn't check his license plate??

What started as a mediocre thriller with a decent premise took absolutely ridiculous turns in the second half. And not in a fun way. The story could have been ridiculous but thrilling, with the opportunity for an interesting cat and mouse game. But the writing is just lazy, the plot twists make no sense, the bad guys are laughable, and the final ending... I don't wanna spoil it, but let's just say Charlie went all in for the grand finale of stupid, stupid life choices.

This was my second Riley Sager book and it was even worse than Final Girls, so I think I should just call it quits.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent and Car accident

radeeyah's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Murder, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Abandonment, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Terminal illness and Cancer

lydiavsbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I didn't know what to expect going in, I've really liked Riley Sager in the past but I've also heard some not so great reviews about this one of his. I did however end up really enjoying it.

I'll admit that I was initially hesitant going in and it did start off slightly silly with the way the 'movies' in her head were described, but it made more sense the further in it gets, and I don't think there's anything wrong with a little bit of silliness in a thriller. It was fun, it was fast and tense throughout, and well paced in how the story was told. The plot drove the story but the characters definitely added to it and I enjoyed spending time in our main characters head. 

Overall I really good time, a solid thriller, and I'm really glad I read it despite the negative reviews.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Torture, and Car accident

Minor: Death of parent, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Torture, Vomit, and Murder

meagalou's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Murder, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Car accident, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

kierstm's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Blood

kerrymwhite's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

very solid thriller. timeline takes place over one night,  a few different view points. very twisty - some insane, some shocking. definitely recommend

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Cancer, Suicide, Car accident, Death, Gun violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Terminal illness, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit

paigew1226's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Oh how I wanted to like this book, but everything was just so meh. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit, Suicide, Torture, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

bexy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Amazing plot twist that I did not see coming at all. A somewhat difficult glimpse at struggles with grief and mental wellness, but then with twists and turns throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence

Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent

hinkleh2021's review

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

Minor: Suicide attempt