Reviews tagging 'Death'

Between Dog and Wolf by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry

9 reviews

lindsaylhunter's review

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

Maybe I just don't know enough about Soviet history but this fell very flat for me. It would have saved itself if the characters were in any way likeable. All in all, it was one hell of a slog to the finish line.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Death

Moderate: Incest

cecilialau_'s review

4.5

Anya is our narrator in this very descriptive story taking place in Russia in the eighties. (And normally I can get “bored” by too many descriptors but I fully went with it in this book).

It is mostly a story about friendship between two girls who grow up together, and their love for each other is special and intense but in the way of exploring who they are and the curiosity that drives that desire.
I really enjoyed it and they were so authentic and real and sincere and discouraged and defeated and fierce and flawed and there was a sense of contentment while a strong desire to dream and hope for a different life - beyond the Iron Curtain.

There is an author’s note at the end of the book that lets the reader know how personal it is and how her own life inspired this piece of historical fiction.

The way Anya realises that Milka is not gaining weight despite a very healthy appetite due to her family life (lack of emotional support) is really profound and so important to point out, I think

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Violence, Blood, Death, Cursing, Pregnancy, Bullying, Sexual assault, Drug use, Abortion, and Grief

carolineeedmondson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

The perfect balance of immersing you in a complete world and ripping your heart out with tragic characters. The granular details of each relationship are as fully developed as the big-picture descriptions of the political landscape. It's really Anya and Milka's story, and it has staying power. I love getting to see both the world-shaking events of Anya's youth and how she processes it later in life - you have to have the last part of the book to put the first part in perspective. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Abortion

Minor: Cannibalism

ventellina's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Abortion, Death, Pregnancy, and Rape

marissab's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Death, Alcohol, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Child abuse, Classism, Rape, and War

Minor: Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Blood, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual content

remuslibrary's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Abortion, Alcohol, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Cursing, Grief, and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

emmacog's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Grief, Violence, and War

srm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion and Death

Moderate: Violence, Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse

Minor: Child death, Cursing, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Infertility, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and War

sjanke2's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

 Russia's very own My Brilliant Friend. Because it's loosely based off of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, I was worried this novel would fly over my head. But that wasn't the case. I ached for Milka, especially after reading the acknowledgements and learning she was based on the author's best friend in her own Soviet childhood. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Vomit, Sexual violence, Abortion, Sexual assault, Rape, Grief, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Infertility, Incest, Death, and Cursing