Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Shadows by Alex North

9 reviews

rcd229's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

I've read so many books at this point in my life and I have such an overactive imagination that not a lot surprises me. Or if it does, it doesn't surprise me all that much. Usually if I'm reading a good mystery and I guess a good ending, I mostly just enjoy seeing how said ending was arrived at rather than being wowed by any plot twists because I generally see them coming. Not gonna lie, I did not quite see this one coming. The writing and the setup is done in such a way that I didn't even consider the big twist until I was already past it. So I'm fairly impressed. I read The Whisper Man a while back and thought that that, too, was a really good, albeit ***extremely*** messed up story, and I am no less appreciative of this (although this, while very dark, is definitely dark in a deeply sad way rather than the way The Whisper Man turns out).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Dementia, and Grief

Minor: Torture

melissahawco's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Suicide, Torture, Child death, and Blood

yomireads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.0

I was genuinely spooked reading this book and the plot twists were spectacularly well foreshadowed, and yet unexpected. The resolution felt a little anticlimactic, but it still felt satisfying and tied the loose ends nicely. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Torture, Terminal illness, and Suicide

Minor: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, and Homophobia

tarynreadss's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

I LOVED this book! I read the Whisper Man by the same author and it definitely has similar vibes to this. This book was dark, mysterious, heart-pounding, creepy, and kept me guessing. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times throughout the book but I was wrong every time. This book gives major fall/Halloween spooky vibes and it's amazing. It felt like a fever dream at some parts. I think you'd like this book if you're looking for something to keep you up at night and be scared to go to sleep! I absolutely loved this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Torture

staceyisbooked'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Self harm, Violence, Torture, Death, and Murder

kingsteph's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, and Torture

Minor: Suicide

caseyemorgan's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Torture

gm_vak's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Murder, Torture, and Violence

_autumn_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Grief