Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

46 reviews

larkken's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

river_severn's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Animal death, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

conceptuallysound's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Violence

Minor: Child abuse

stephanieluxton's review against another edition

dark sad medium-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? Yes

3.5

This book really isn't what I thought it'd be. I didn't find it scary but I did find it reasonably stressful. It's essentially about a man who becomes haunted by a ghost and sets out to uncover the truth about the haunting and find a way to free himself of it. There's some really excellent character development and I do like the story unfolded in a way I didn't expect. The story had a medium pace. I think it would have been better if it was either a fast paced thriller or if it was more of a slow burn horror that built a sense of dread. The second half of the book is better than the first!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Mental illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Incest

There are two graphic dog deaths in which injuries are fairly detailed. The antagonist in the book tries many times to make the protagonists kill themselves or eachother via hypnosis. It's also revealed later that he used hypnosis on his stepdaughter so she wouldn't remember him sexually assaulting her. Sexual assault of minors is another theme throughout the book although it's not described in detail.

boundforinfinity's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

Rock meets Stephen king/Shirley Jackson and creates this stunning story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Suicide, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Child abuse, Death, Alcoholism, Grief, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

dreamdoughnut's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, Suicide, Animal death, Cursing, Child abuse, and Violence

Minor: Car accident, Terminal illness, Drug use, Incest, Vomit, and Body horror

juengerm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

Not scary, but dark. One of the best-written horror novels I've ever read, with exquisite character building and supernatural systems. This was a perfect blend of character and plot, and it truly shook me to my core in the most beautiful way. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault

fetusdeletus's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

backlogbooks's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

March 21, 2021 – Finished Reading
March 20, 2021 – 
 65.0% "oh hell yes"
March 16, 2021 – 
 35.0% "okay no spoilers but that was a really cool fight scene"
March 14, 2021 – 
 27.0%
March 13, 2021 – 
 8.0% "i can already tell i’m gonna like the way this guy writes the ghost in this story (even as i want to throttle the main character lmao)"
March 12, 2021 – Shelved
March 12, 2021 – Started Reading

lmao very detailed updates with this one--but it is a solid horror novel (definitely look up trigger warnings, I'll provide the ones I remember but there are probably more) 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse

bookwormsbones's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Self harm

Minor: Child abuse