Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt

8 reviews

muckl3t83's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Moderate: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Stalking, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Murder, Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, and Death

dcnireads's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad fast-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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Child abuse, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Stalking, and Alcohol

thegreatimp's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Grief, Body horror, and Child abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Pregnancy and Bullying

mel_j's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

The world-building could've been more thorough, but I loved the vibe and atmosphere! The two protagonists were everything – I felt so sorry for Elwood but loved his soft nature and really liked Wil's feistyness and strength. The ending was heartbreaking, but very fitting.

(It's very YA, but that's okay.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Religious bigotry, Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Body horror

Moderate: Stalking and Confinement

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pregnancy, Cursing, Sexism, Alcohol, Torture, Vomit, and Kidnapping

kayceeisbookish's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Loved it! It is beautifully horrific, like twirling throny vines growing up a trellis. This book's vines had a CHOKEHOLD on me. I read it in one sitting. The mystery, grotesque body horror, the beauty in the main characters' development and growth, this book truly has it all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Alcoholism, Animal death, Gore, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Gaslighting, Grief, Violence, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Blood, and Religious bigotry

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Together We Rot has a very interesting and unique storyline. I wish there was more to the story than there is... it's hard to put into words what I'm missing. This is a quick read and I enjoyed it. Also, gorgeous cover art. Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy of the book for an honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Blood, Animal death, Death of parent, Violence, Bullying, Murder, Alcohol, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Gore

Minor: Abandonment, Pregnancy, and Stalking

imbored_soillread's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Wil is a girl trying to solve her mother’s disappearance when it feels like the police aren’t doing anything. Elwood is a boy trying to escape from his secretive cult family. Together they have to repair their broken friendship and work together to solve the case and stop the crimes his family have been commuting for centuries. 
SETTING/ENVIRONMENT- this book had some great world building, especially for being set in our world. I felt like I was there in the story the whole time. The cult in this story is a Christian based one, and as a Christian, and someone who has been in a Christian based cult, I thought it was done really well. It goes to show how people will bed the words of scripture to fit their own sick ends. For example, Elwood has been being abused for his whole life. His parents use the scriptures about the importance of discipline while completely ignoring the context and the scriptures about loving your children. They say that God has always required sacrifice for justification for killing animals and ignore the fact that Jesus became that sacrifice and fulfilled the law so that no more death would be necessary. One qualm I had with the setting was that it was set in winter, and my brain was picturing fall, so it threw me off, but that’s more my fault then the author’s. 
PLOT- the plot was unique, interesting, and not grossly predictable as YA/NA books are these days. I found it easy to follow while still being deep and nuanced. 
CHARACTERS- I have a love hate relationship with the characters in this book. They were well written and intentionally made this way, but personally, I wouldn’t have gotten along with them irl. Aside from Elwood perhaps. Wil was feisty, but I am very non confrontational and so our personalities don’t really fit. I thought it was interesting how the pastor aka Elwoods father called himself the “right hand of God.” Let me tell you, as soon as someone says they speak for God, run. It’s a cult. Only God speaks for God. 
PROSE- immaculate and beautiful. Horrifyingly well done. 10/10. Enough said. 
OVERALL ENJOYMENT- I liked it. I couldn’t put it down. It’s not my favorite ever, but it was good. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Grief, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Police brutality

I feel like it’s important to add occult themes, cult sacrifice, child and animal sacrifice, religious trauma, swearing, and a slight demonic tone. The regular content warnings can’t really warn you about these.

trippyotter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

 Wow, this story!

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I started, but I was shocked and blown away by the plot twist! I shouldn't have been. It's clearly in the summary, but it's different when you're wrapped up in the story and experiencing it.

When Wil's mother goes missing, she confronts her childhood friend, Elwood, who sides with his family. Grieving the loss of her mother and best friend, Wil sets out to discover the truth, and nothing could have prepared her for the truth.

Elwood has suffered at the hand of his father for years, and his future has been chosen for him. But when he learns the truth of his father's deceit, he will do anything to separate himself from his family and town.

I give the author mad props for the non-traditional ending! I don't think any other ending would have worked with the story, but I would love to read a novella/short when everyone comes back together in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Vomit, Alcohol, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse