Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

13 reviews

redefiningrachel's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Kidnapping, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Grief, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Trafficking

Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, and Car accident

Minor: Pregnancy

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Such a terrifying, yet fascinating premise for a book. This is a unique thriller and one that I won’t forget about anytime soon. The second half of the book drug on a little for me but once I understood why it was set up the way it was, the pace picked up again. It didn’t take me long to identify the bad guy once the second part of the book started but it was gratifying to be right in the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Confinement, Drug abuse, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

jgwags's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Gore, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Abortion, Death, Drug use, Grief, Medical trauma, Vomit, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

ashhjo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

For the most part it was very exhilarating and dark, but the romance was not needed. Sometimes it was slow paced and confusing too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Child abuse, and Stalking

alicefaye_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Cancer, Child abuse, Murder, Confinement, Blood, Medical content, Gun violence, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Medical trauma

taelights's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book really hooked me from the first chapter. The concept was just so interesting to me and exploring the lengths people will go to save a loved one has always been a topic I've found interesting in media. So from the get go I love this book. 

However, it kind of lost me in the second half. The first half focused on the topics I liked. It had great pacing and tension, moments that had me on the edge of my seat, and so many intriguing characters and choices.

The second half had potential because exploring the aftermath of the trauma could have been super interesting but it went in a totally different direction than what I wanted. I thought what the author decided to go with was super unrealistic and overdramatic. Also the characterization of the person running the Chain was just so bad lol. 

Also, I thought the ending was

way too happy? Like I love happy endings, don't get me wrong, but this one was unrealistically happy. The characters expierence so much trauma in the book yet seemed to fully get over it super fast. Also the "babies ever after" trope was really unnecessary in this book. Honestly the romance to begin with was unnecessary but the baby especially. Like ah yes what an on and off cancer patient and her drug addict boyfriend who she's only with due to a trauma bond definitely need a baby.

Anyways this could have been a 5 star read but unfortunately the second half of the book knocked it down to a 4 star for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Confinement, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Cancer, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicide, Child death, and Drug abuse

Minor: Pregnancy

hannalizzy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Really interesting premise, and it’s definitely a moral dilemma that gets you thinking. It sparked some interesting conversations in my house. I’m glad that they didn’t gloss over the trauma this whole experience would cause the young girl in the story, that felt realistic. I did not enjoy the love interest or the addiction subplot. Overall interesting premise, but I felt like the second half of the book lacked the same adrenaline rush of the first part. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Trafficking, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Violence, Gaslighting, Cancer, Stalking, and Addiction

hellokatya's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

i really enjoyed this book. i had a hard time putting it down. i will admit, i was a little underwhelmed with the ending, and was left with a few questions, but nothing detrimental to the story. great fast paced and quick read. 10/10 would recommend

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Cancer, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Physical abuse, War, Grief, Gun violence, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Vomit

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0

I really didn’t like this book. the writing was not my favorite, the characters felt illegitimate, and the ending/reveal was cheap and obvious in my opinion. after reading the back i was so incredibly excited to read and love this but it just felt like a first draft :(

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Cancer

autumnwhite's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Drug use, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Gun violence, Medical content, and Vomit