Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

31 reviews

chefboyavi's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

This is one of those books I wish I could love. It has a strong premise but the writing style didn’t resonate with me. It’s overwritten in a way that makes me feel like the author doesn’t trust the reader to follow her where she wants you to go. I think if it were a bit more restrained, it would be a great book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Violence

talonsontypewriters'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Kidnapping, Body horror, Hate crime, Grief, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Blood, Gore, Child death, Gun violence, Death, and Classism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, Child abuse, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide, Bullying, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Racial slurs, and Vomit

Misogynoir. Missing person/child. Descriptions of corpses (human and animal).

biblioteca_nati's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Murder, Kidnapping, and Child death

Minor: Physical abuse

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

OMG. I want to teach a class just on this book!!!! Part historical fiction, part horror, part suspense, part  allegory, and all of it…what is the right word…around, because, triggered by, integrated with, embodies by…racism. This book was a mind bender, and I loved every minute of it, even the gruesome, because there was a point to it all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, Stalking, Violence, Gun violence, Body horror, and Pedophilia

criticalmiss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I read this quickly (on audio) and I was very invested in the outcome. Was a bit touchy for me as a 9year gets abducted and I have a 10 year old. 
What the mystery actually turned out to be was a curve I didn’t see coming and I don’t know if I was 100% on board with it. Definitely still a compelling read. 

Lots of trigger warnings for this one : kidnapping, child murder, rape, racism, mental health, alcoholism

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Animal death, Kidnapping, Murder, Gore, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent

traa's review

dark mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pedophilia, Vomit, Rape, and Eating disorder

Minor: Slavery and Cannibalism

mfrisk's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It touches on the history of the area, has a good build up of thriller elements, and a lot of social commentary around race and class. Where it gets a bit confusing is the more supernatural/horror elements that while interesting I’m not sure are weaved into the story enough early on for them to feel fully realized. That being said I really look forward to reading more from this author given that this was a debut. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racism, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Grief, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

whimsicalish's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.5

For the most part, I enjoyed this ride. I don't read many horror but Adams did a great job with the atmosphere and describing the evil in the forest. The writing is descriptive enough to get a sense of dread, while being easy to read.

When I was getting to the climax, I was worried the book was heading to an overdone direction. I was pleasantly surprised finding something new!

There are a few pieces of info that either, don't get an explanation or just the sake of a red herring. My biggest feedback/negative is a line from the MC that states her "reasoning" about the innocence of a man.

MC is very much attracted to this man from her childhood. She later deems he is innocent because he's attractive and his emotions show in his eyes. (Adams also states MC is in her 30s and consumes a ton of true crime.) Umm? There are serial killers KNOWN for their charisma and conventional attractiveness by society. What a strange thing to write...I am utterly baffled with the MC not trusting anyone, then quickly okays this man; simply because he's hot and doesn't have cold, dead eyes?

Adams does a great job creating dialogue in this story about racism. Even weaves real history from Johnstown, Pennsylvania into Jackal.

I am interested if Adams has more stories in the future. I hope they continue to write and grow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Racism, Murder, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence

boba_n_books's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

This unique book takes elements of mystery and thriller and merges them with some science fiction. I enjoyed all the twists and turns throughout the search for Caroline and how Liz uncovers the past to help unravel the future. The shadow element is intriguing, and I wish it had been fleshed (lol) out more. 

Though the book had its slow moments, I really enjoyed the story and appreciated the deeper meaning and commentary about the advancement of the Black community and the suppression of Black stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Blood, Kidnapping, Racism, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Animal death, Death of parent, Child death, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

kkalicky94's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Pedophilia