Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Mandibula by Mónica Ojeda

81 reviews

elisascrive's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Found myself gnashing at the end without even realising. It always keeps you on the edge. Not a five-star read just because I thought the ending would be much more devastating. Still, the rest of the book is a masterpiece of language and flow. 

It is not an easy read though, very explicit with toxic relationships all over. Motherhood and "sisterhood" are extremely relevant to the whole story and plot, with graphic depictions scattered throughout the novel.   

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia

Minor: Alcohol

meika_one's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book is very atmospheric and literary.  It explores the emotional substrate of how people process fear and terror.  There aren't any supernatural elements, so it read as psychological thriller to me.  Similar to Apt Pupil, but more cosmic.  It skates on the blade edge of innocence.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

rickjones's review against another edition

5.0

dark tense

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Endlessly disturbing and breathtakingly creative, Jawbone is a story of adolescent daring and purity that descends into violence. Ojeda's use of language, bodily disgust, and topical pop culture references create a story that is unique to the point of mythological. The horror draws the reader in and then clamps down its teeth, culminating in an ending soaked in madness and terror. One of the greatest horror stories I've ever read, and not recommended for the faint of heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Death of parent, Outing, Sexual harassment

gia0203's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I need time to process this one. Dark reflection on womanhood and adolescence. The writing style was unique - perhaps not a style I prefer, but it was interesting, and  I appreciated it. Fascinating motifs and metaphors. Very Freudian. The relationship between the protagonists was the most interesting part. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Toxic friendship

Minor: Pedophilia, Racism, Alcohol

readingwithcoffee's review against another edition

1.5

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The writing itself was good but the book felt too hinged on Freudian and pseudo intellectual points that while given the instability and irrationality of the character due to both traumas and age made sense, I think bogged down the book itself because I think it accidentally undermined any attempted theme 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment

binchsensei's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

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Jeeeeez! Had no idea what I was getting into with this one. Masterfully paced, and the writing style was so visceral and unique.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence

raisinreads's review against another edition

3.75

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Toxic gay relationship!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship

rebeccafarren's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment

caracabe's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia

walrus420's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child death, Alcohol