Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

16 reviews

vixenreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

3.75

Despite being overstuffed, it has a lot of bite, and pathos. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Classism, Death, Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Outing

Moderate: Animal death, Alcoholism, Cursing, Homophobia, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Abandonment, Excrement, Racial slurs, and Vomit

There is a graphic scene of a young boy being castrated, and the pedophilia in the book is quite prevalent. The gender identity in the book will bring up a lot of issues in terms of representation of trans youth. Plus there is some scenes featuring unintentional urination.

noble_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Succeeds in being properly scary, especially in the second half when all the action really reaches a crescendo. Creepy and uncomfortable.
The ending left a little to he desired in my opinion, open. I'll definitely pick up the collection of short stories which is supposed to include a sequel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Gore, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Excrement, Medical trauma, Murder, Medical content, Torture, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Self harm

carrionkid's review against another edition

3.5

I enjoyed this book a lot, I only wish the author was a LITTLE less weird about kids. I don't think we needed an in depth description of a kid who keeps pissing himself deciding to stick memory foam on his penis which he calls "the pissball". That seemed unnecessary.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, and Child abuse

natreviews's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

I had heard a lot about this book. Originally, I'd heard about the Italian film, then the American re-make, and found it all started with this book. It's the perfect October read. It's scary on multiple levels (from violence, to pedophilia, to gore) and I think it handles these topics well and with the respect they deserve. It isn't a easy read, but it is very rewarding if you can get through it. I also appreciate how it's set in the 1980's, that way it isn't bogged down with modern devices and having to work around those. Yes, there are some weird translation issues (words not making grammatical sense, or simple words missing), but the writing overall makes up for that. 
In the back of my copy there's a page advertising John's next book. I don't know if I'll read it, but Let The Right One In is a book I will keep on my shelf.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug use, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury

alsoapples's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Confinement

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

will_meringue's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Violence