Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Appetite for Innocence by Lucinda Berry

17 reviews

jnvreads's review against another edition

3.5

Appetite for Innocence by Lucinda Berry - Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

A serial rapists goes after virgin teenage girls. Stocking their entire lives on social media and until he gets the timing right to take them. Holding them in his basement until he’s ready to take the innocence. 

Once in captivity, we get the heartbreaking story that flips from being captive to the hospital after escaping as it follows two of his victims’ stories that they had to endure. 

LIKES:

👍🏾 The story was plausible and informative. The author did a great job handling a difficult subject matter. Mostly in being able to see the traumatic deep routed scars that are left on a person after something like this emotionally, mentally, and physically.

👍🏾 The main characters were beautifully written. My heart ached for Ella. I’ve never wanted to burst out into tears so hard for someone in a book like this. John was the perfect villain. He was disgusting and revolting. And Sarah made me want to yank her by her hair with her Stockholm Syndrome. She was the perfect side kick and villain to finish out the story. It all added these multiple layers to the reality of the situation. 

👍🏾 The pacing was kept well throughout especially with the short chapters and flipping between narratives and timelines. 

DISLIKES:

👎🏾 I found the ending rushed when it came to John. I wish the book explored more about the kidnapper’s motive and background though, since the means and opportunity to commit the crime were so detailed.

👎🏾 There were a couple times the story dragged a bit, I think more towards the end with the girls coming home. A lot of repetition and parts that could’ve been taken out that wouldn’t affected the overall story. I also wouldn’t consider it exactly a thriller. 

👎🏾 Jocelyn, especially as a mother, annoyed the hell out of me. How do you tend to every physical and emotional need of another child over your own? Especially after you lost her for MONTHS. I got the sympathy, but I can’t imagine not hanging onto everything my kid needs over forcing her into it all. 

Overall, I would definitely check all the trigger warning before getting into it, but a good fast read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Abortion, Gore, Drug use, Pregnancy, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Torture, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Child death, Murder, Miscarriage, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

hollyyym's review

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Torture, Rape, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Child abuse, Blood, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Death, Abortion, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence

jordanthefryingpan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

tarantulagirl's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Kidnapping, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Blood, Child death, and Death

ambr2786's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

Great book! Lucinda Berry is one of my fave authors & I love all of her books. This book Def has some trigger warnings but I enjoyed it.

I loved the ending too even tho I didn't expect what happens to Sarah. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, Blood, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Torture, Alcohol, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Death

hauntedantiqueshop's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Very much felt like the plot of a Criminal Minds or SVU episode. I really disliked Ella’s mom,

I cannot fathom refusing to listen to a professional’s advice and actively ignoring your traumatized daughter’s pleads to not make her live with someone who idolized their shared abuser. Ella should have punched Petra as soon as she called her “our mom”.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Abortion, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Confinement, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, and Physical abuse

Stockholm Syndrome isn’t a tag but definitely is involved heavily in this book, with a character basically romanticizing her trauma and abuse.

mackenzieotlowski's review

dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Grief, Gore, Rape, Murder, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Trafficking, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Grief, Gore, Infertility, Abortion, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gun violence, Miscarriage, and Medical trauma

check tags for trigger warnings

bcashton22's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Lucinda berry is slowly becoming my favorite author. This was a solid 4.5 stars. I really liked the dual POV and that you got to see the current and past situation from both girls. A very sad but very good read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Sexual violence, and Self harm

aesa1993's review

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Abortion, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

agapemanning's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Death, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders