Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

10 reviews

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I reread this as an audiobook, and the production is on POINTE. Sound effects match the flash scenes perfectly, and the emotion from the narrator hits as it should. I love the mysteries within the story and the complexity of the characters. Elora feels as much a part of the story as Gray, Hart, and everyone else we meet, because her presence is felt so strongly from nearly page one. My strong hope is that this will become a movie or mini-series one day, because the writing is amazing. Recently, I learned from the author that an expert on Louisiana read the book before publication, which explains its authenticity. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Moderate: Suicide

chanlo1994's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The scenery details are so realistic. I can smell the mud and feel the heat of the Gulf Coast. I really love Ginny's writing.

The ending!!!! I'm like WHOA. The way it wraps up... its incredible. Genius, really. I might have to sit on my couch and do nothing but process for a couple minutes.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Addiction, Body horror, and Blood

Additional content warnings: drowning, hurricanes

siennabea's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

I think this book was good, I just wish it had a bit more description on who the characters actually were. 
It dealed with grief okay, but the last few chapters where it all came together was truly my favourite part.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Blood

izzyvioletgrace's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

hollyheartless's review against another edition

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

3.0

I have very mixed feelings about this book. This is quite fast paced and I was very hooked on finding out what happened. Part of me loves the dark atmosphere and the absolute rollercoaster I was on in trying to solve the mystery I did not trust any of these characters apart from MC Grey. The history of the characters and world building was clearly really thought out and clear while reading. There are some very clever snippets of writing using small visions of text to build a whole scene which I thought was brilliant!! However, I will say I didn’t feel fully satisfied with the ending of the book as a whole in the epilogue, I feel like I have a lot of questions still unanswered. Also there are a lot of triggers with this book, including child death, abuse, alcoholism and brief mentions of self harm. It is a dark and more mature book, one that I would read again but I wouldn’t be in any rush to 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury

jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Truly shocked by how much I wound up enjoying this book. Nothing was predictable and each twist shocked me more than the last. 

Harts tempted should’ve been a dead giveaway but knowing the summer 10 had lost three before adulthood allowed the reader to excuse it as grief. He shouldn’t have kept the secrets he did, but even then he was not the worst … no one could’ve seen Evie’s plot twist coming. 

I fell for her being the victim, haunted both literally and by grief for those of their group who passed. Finding out it was her literally being haunted by guilt and by Elora for killing her left my jaw on the floor.

Overall, I loved the magical aspect of all these psychic abilities those in  La Cachette had. The intrigue that followed decades of murders, guilt and lies. Ginny is a beyond talented author, truly having my heart beat for all the

summer 12

while I devoured this book whole. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

darquedreamer's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Dark and Shallow Lies was atmospheric and captivating. Very well written. So little happened, but so much happened at the same time. It was breathtaking and heart clenching, and gripping.

The story inside most definitely matched the beautifully gothic cover on the outside. It was dark and tense and I could see it clearly in my mind. It was mysterious and reflective, and had an amazing build up.

For taking place in such a short amount of time, the characters had so much depth to them. Even the characters that were no longer in the story. They were rich and felt so real, despite most of them having not so real abilities.

The setting was perfect. It transported me to the bayou. The descriptions, the feel of the words, and the way the characters spoke all anchored me to the story and location.

I definitely enjoyed this one. It had a tiny bit of predictability that allowed the truly shocking twists to be hidden. It unfolded in a perfect way, just like a hurricane.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

kitfkat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

powellki's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I enjoyed the premise of this book, I enjoyed the beginning mystery. I wanted to know what had happened to Elora as badly as Grey did. There were a few twists and turns in the book I didn't see coming, especially the last hour of the audiobook. I am very disappointed with the ending because it turned into a very twisted love triangle (that had been hinted at throughout the book), and ends with the unnecessary death of multiple characters. I was also unhappy with the epilogue because it ends ambiguously. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Blood and Alcohol

ladylivs's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

’m not sure what’s spookier; the unexplainable circumstances around our main character’s best friend Elora’s disappearance, the obtuse comments from all the dozens of psychics in this Louisiana bayou, or the literal storm on the horizon. (Or maybe I’m pushing up the creepiness of the storm because of Hurricane Ida’s monstrous damage to the homes and livelihoods of so many people.) 

Grey spends her summers on a tourist island off the coast of Louisiana, a “self-proclaimed Psychic Capital of the World.” But this summer is different because 6 months ago her best friend disappeared, and no one knows exactly what happened to her. Grey starts searching for answers and only gets more questions, although as she begins to discover secrets and acknowledge hard truths, they may be more horrifying than she’s ready for. The biggest question and truth of all: is Elora dead and gone for good, and did someone kill her?

This gothic horror started almost too slow for me, but about a quarter of the way through it really snagged my attention and didn’t let go. It’s dark, suspenseful, emotional, and absolutely enthralling. The writing really makes you feel sweaty and hot, like you too are in a swamp dying of heatstroke and swatting mosquitos away while monsters prowl around you in the dead of night. For those of you who bemoan them, you should know there is technically a classic YA love triangle, but since there’s a whodunnit quality around whether we like the potential love interests, I personally forgave the author for the inclusion. 

If you read it and especially if you like or love it, I’d recommend looking up mutual aids for the Louisiana bayou since their Hurricane Ida recovery will be a long and hard process.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail