Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Reprieve by James Han Mattson

6 reviews

bebidocrimes's review

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The summary for this book, while not exactly misleading, is a lot flashier than what is presented in text. A murder happens in a full contact haunted escape room, but the real meat of the story is the characters' backgrounds, and what led each of them into this situation. It takes a look at the toxicity of sexism, racial fetishism, and entitlement. I really enjoyed the concept of the Quigley House as a whole, even if I'm too chicken to set foot in a place like that, and I'm imagining how vindicated the characters who condemned the attraction from the beginning must feel. Overall, a good read even if it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Gore, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Death of parent, and Body horror

mxajlikesbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Body horror, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Sexual content

Minor: Gore, Infidelity, and Alcohol

sunsetcity's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Violence, Stalking, Gaslighting, Gore, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Medical content, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, and Death

nouveau's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Grief

sallysimply's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

The pacing of this - fantastic! The writing - pretty good!

But WOW was this frustrating to read at times! I love ambiguous endings, open endings, not having everything fully tied up, and still, I was so frustrated that by the end of this, I really did not know wtf John's deal was.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Car accident

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

Possibly the biggest content warning is for the lengthy, frustrating making of an incel / descent into fragile and toxic masculinity. Dear god, was it triggering.

stevie's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia