Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

7 reviews

ambersbakesandbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Confinement

whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I was really excited about this read -- creepy isolated hotel in the mountains, estranged siblings with traumatized pasts, a detective juggling her current career and the past she can't seem to get away from -- it sounds like it's right up my alley. And I did enjoy it: the pacing was good, the mystery keeps you guessing with all its twists and turns, and the hotel was DEFINITELY CREEPY (which I loved). However, I did feel that the wrap-up was a tad underwhelming. Also, and this is just me, Elin's boyfriend rubbed me wrong (perhaps because some of his condescension was too familiar for comfort, and honestly I just think she'd probably be better off without him). 
That being said the epilogue did grip my interest and I am certainly excited to see what comes next for Detective Elin Warner!

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Content Warnings

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

lillyrose97's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Kidnapping, Child death, Death, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child abuse

Moderate: Rape, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

bethnash's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Mental illness, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

parkerknoll's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

Incredible writing, suspense building, and pacing. Interesting mystery thriller that doesn’t use all the usual tropes  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Blood, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Torture, Gore, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Confinement, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Sexual harassment

scburhans's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

Overall, a really good mystery/thriller! There was just a few things that bugged me enough to drop it from 5 stars to 4.
My biggest worry when starting this book was how Pearse was going to use the setting of the Sanatorium. Sanatoriums/Asylums are big staples in suspense and horror, so there are a lot of different ways for the setting to become tropey/unoriginal/uninteresting. I though that turning the sanatorium into a hotel added an interesting twist while adding a nice element of social horror as well - trying to (sometimes literally) whitewash the past. Similarly, I thought that most of the characters were really complex and compelling. There were a few things that confused me, but I'm assuming that's due to the cultural barrier going on here. The plot was paced well and engaging, and I think that Pearse added a lot of rich detail to her characters and world building. A also appreciated the little nods to actual sanatorium design as well as the rather colorful and often brutal histories of asylums around the world. For a debut book, I think it's really good!
I did have a few issues pertaining to the psychology of the suspects and perpetraitors. Some of their actions and ways they acted and reacted didn't make sense from a psychological perspective. They were common mistakes, but they still bugged me. Similarly, I had a few issues with details of the crime. I simply cannot find what type of respirator/mask the perpetraitor used anywhere on the internet. The closest thing I can find is a WWII era gas mask/respirator, but the tubing still connects to an outiside box, not the mask itself. I'm really curious as to if Pearse made that device up or if it's actually based on a real respirator that I can't seem to find. There were a lot of horrifying looking devices used back then that would have worked for a signature, so I find it a bit odd that she (seemlingly) chose to make something up instead. It's a small detail, but it still pulled me out of the story a bit.
Overall, a pretty good book! I'd defintely reccommend it to my friends and I'll probably read it's upcoming sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Grief

Moderate: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Stalking, Sexual assault, Cancer, Sexual violence, Confinement, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

annieliz's review

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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence