Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

44 reviews

evelphysicist's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Overall a good read. I enjoyed the multiple characters and perspectives in the book and I think seeing these characters lives intersect made the story more interesting as it’s not a particularly fast paced book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Violence, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, Blood, Racial slurs, and Rape

Moderate: Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Suicide

sphinx_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

A 3.5 or 4 stars.

With so many characters and happenings in this book, I tried my best to think what is the overarching theme. The best I have is that everyone has their own circumstances, some way grimmer than others. And while the lives of the characters here tangle in a mess, they end up the cause and effect, the reason for someone's pain, etc. - all of their actions stem from how they were taught around them and how their lives had been. They try to live comfortably or move forward in a way they know. For example,

Johnny (unfortunately so) follows his brother's footsteps because he looks up to the latter.

Lacke buries all what-could-bes through alcohol until it was too late.

Tommy, probably not over his father's death, can't agree with his mother having a new relationship so he thinks of rebelling or stripping himself away from the household instead.

Virginia... deserved so much more.

The list can go on, and the characters makes so much sense because of their narratives and backstories presented. (Except for Hakan, lol. Fuck him.)

My heart goes out for many characters but mostly for Eli and Oskar. Two kids who only want to find connection and play, just like any kids should without having to be bullied. Without having to be chasen around. With all the "flaws" the people see around them, they don't see it as such. They appreciate each other which is wholesome af in a very dark story as this.

There were so many parts that were difficult to read. I abhor the bullying (and all unspeakable things. iykyk) but what made me stay with the story are truly the characters. The characters, man. The characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Bullying, Homophobia, Violence, and Body horror

Minor: Rape

mmefish's review against another edition

Uh no.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Rape, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Body shaming

caityq's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

This book was recommended to me and not one I would've picked up myself - so I am grateful to have been lead to it. 

It is a fresh, visceral take on a classic theme, and I really enjoyed every moment - even if some were really uncomfortable. 

 
This book was essentially about vampires - but in a way that didn't feel well-trodden. 

First of all, Oskar is one of the main voices of the book and at first you think you know which way the book is going. However, Oskar's initial 'bloodlust' at his bullies doesn't stand up to actual murder. 

He falls for (mostly, he is 12/13 and fickle) Eli, who's gender is pretty flexible. You learn - through psychic kissing which sounds odd to type but really worked in the context of the book - the torture and means through which Eli became not only a vampire, but as they are - without any genitals. 

Through this semi-romantic plot, there's Hakan - an older man who whilst he knows he finds younger boys attractive, thinks he's hit the jackpot with Eli - body of a 12 year old, mine of a 200 year old. When Hakan becomes infected it seems to take differently. Not in his heart - but I believe in his penis (which sounds weird but works in the context of the book, yet again). 

There's a visceral gore - from Oskar's piss-ball to Hakan's vampiric erection - that I really enjoyed, even though it was uncomfortable at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, and Bullying

markedwithanm's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pedophilia, Death, Bullying, Sexual violence, and Rape

kingsamong's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape

vermethys's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Pedophilia

Minor: Rape and Suicide

gringolet's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The gender stuff is. complicated. Mileage may vary on that front. Personally, I enjoyed this book, and while some of the vast array of interwoven story lines are less engaging or emotionally affecting than others, the central relationship between Oskar and Eli really works.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Murder, Pedophilia, Suicide, Blood, Stalking, Bullying, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Sexual assault

jbcrue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Cannibalism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Suicide, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Animal death, Body horror, Medical content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Excrement, Medical trauma, and Mental illness

samtheoboeguy's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child death, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Blood