Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

43 reviews

drjoannehill's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Very creepy from the start, but as much a commentary on women's powerlessness in the 1860s - when it was very easy for an accusation of insanity to be used to lock someone up and medicate them up to the eyeballs - as about ghostly goings on. Leaves lots to readers' imaginations to conclude what was happening, which is okay but there were some big gaps in the narrative - perhaps that was intentional. 

The last of my library haul (and I visited today, leaving empty handed!) so I need to get on with clearing the 50+ books I've got at home

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Blood, Child death, Toxic friendship, and Miscarriage

slimshaedy92's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

There are some cliches here, but overall a pretty effective ghost story once it gets moving. I say that because it definitely took me a couple of days to really get moving on such a thin book mainly because it’s been awhile since I read Gothic horror. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Animal death, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia

conniption_fitz's review against another edition

The book has two timelines, one in the 1800s and one in the 1600s. In the 1600s there is repeated use of a racial slur (g***y) as well as multiple examples of how disabled people are viewed as disgusting or evil. The disabled child is hidden away, only can communicate with her mother because her father and others don't learn her sign language, and she is suspected to be demon-touched (which is why she's disabled). There is also a party where the Queen's "freaks" perform as disturbing demons. All of this is historically accurate, but the author does not use this as commentary on the ignorance and ableism of the time, or contemporary biased that still hold strong. 

Instead, two third of the way through the book, it became obvious how the plot was going to play out:

the disabled character is in fact the evil spirit who is murdering people, and her evil nature is directly tied to her disability.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Animal death, Racial slurs, Murder, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Miscarriage

bonky24's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Murder

Moderate: Mental illness and Child death

Minor: Suicide and Child abuse

wrensleyreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This is the book-equivalent of a horror movie. The story worms its way into your head and only after the book is over do you realize there might be some leaps of logic or unanswered questions left dangling.  Go into the book with that mindset and you'll enjoy the ride.  If this ever gets turned into a movie, I'd be too scared to watch it for sure - and that's coming from someone who almost never gets scared by books!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Incest, Pregnancy, and Suicide

Minor: Child death

thwipster's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

great premise, absolutely interesting world-building and concept, but the ending of this novel fell incredibly flat for me. worse still, the 'past' plot that runs partially in parallel to the 'present day-past' events feels disjointed and a little bit clumsy, and bringing the two timelines together to explain the mystery just didn't work for me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Child death

sam_plott's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Pregnancy, Child death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Vomit and Blood

gothic_moss's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

Wow! What a thrilling, horrific ride! I really liked this book's dark Victorian, and Gothic atmosphere/setting. The writing style was perfect-stylish and to the point, and once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I can't decide whether I liked the ending or not though, It was delightfully shocking, but I may have wanted more explanation? I'm not sure to be honest, as I am still processing it. 
If you like Victorian horror, spooky houses, creepy dolls/portraits, family secrets, unreliable narrators, and a non-chronological timeline, you'll love this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pregnancy, Vomit, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

aloy's review

dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Child death, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Murder, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Blood, Violence, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Medical content, Gore, Drug use, Classism, Grief, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, and Animal death

Moderate: Racism, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Racial slurs

Minor: Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

pinkyoshi'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Grief, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Confinement, Child death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, Miscarriage, Death, Vomit, Sexism, Self harm, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, and Animal death