Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

5 reviews

rachelunabridged'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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Grief, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Stalking, Alcoholism, and Mental illness

Minor: Infidelity, Bullying, Sexual content, and Cursing

foramen_magnum's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.75

This right here is why Ward has become my favorite author since discovering Sundial last October. A gorgeous, breathtaking, mind bending book that necessitated a re read of certain chapters as soon as I finished the last page. 

I wasn't into the first couple long chapters as I was reading them-- they read as almost childish, heavily reminiscent of Stephen King down to a Maine setting, a story of two summers told at warp speed. Turns out that was totally the intention, and I'm glad I kept reading. As Wilder & co get older, their stories become more convoluted, more entwined, and more inevitable, relayed through prose whose excellence peeks throughout the book but isn't wholly obvious until the last page.

This is a book best read with no expectations other than a commitment to stick with it to an ending so sharp that you won't realize how deep it's cut you, so I won't say much more... My advice: Embrace being confused. Go on the journey. Re-read.

 The Dagger Man awaits.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Minor: Cursing and Abortion

gondorgirl'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death of parent, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Grief, Violence, Death, and Gore

Minor: Bullying, Pregnancy, and Animal death

uchihas's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

This book was a ride. The ending was a little disappointing though 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Blood, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Vomit, Homophobia, Medical content, Bullying, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Abortion, Animal cruelty, and Sexual content

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

This is like the perfect summer horror novel. You have sun, sand, sea and tumultuous summer friendships.

Catriona Ward captures the immersive depths and fear that can come with the unknown ocean depths like no other author I’ve read. I’d say it’s a great beach read, but maybe not for those who have a touch of thalassophobia.

The first half of the novel had me obsessed. I loved Wilder’s perspective and the atmosphere Catriona Ward created, moving from the New England coast to dark academia and back. Unfortunately, from the 50-80% mark, the storytelling got quite confusing, trying to figure out who’s who, what’s real and what’s not, random time skips, and shoehorned in POVs, which left me feeling discombobulated. And I won’t get into any spoilers, but I have to say I hated the ending, I thought it was such a cop-out.

Thanks so much Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this advanced listening copy! I’d recommend this one, even given the parts I didn’t love, and it’s still a 4⭐️ read for me!

Overall, if you’re looking for a gothic horror read with a summer setting to cap off your August and get you ready for that September academic vibe, this is the one for you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, and Violence

Minor: Abortion, Sexual content, Bullying, and Cursing