Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

43 reviews

cheryl_gager's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.25

This book took me by surprise in more than one way. The synopsis does not hint at how dark the themes of this book are and when it is revealed at the start of part 2 (just under 100 pages in) it is shocking. I think the themes are tackled in a way that is easily digestible as there is a level of detachment from a lot of the most traumatic, disturbing moments (which were off page) didn't happen to the characters whose POVs we get. I loved Sally as a character, the growth she had and the inner turmoil she faced made her POV heartbreaking and heart warming all at once. I got frustrated with the side characters around her because they expected her to be understanding to things and others but it was not always reciprocated and she was never truly given the benefit of the doubt and treated like her choices mattered, especially if she made them on her own. The other POV was more heartbreaking. This is a story of how a negative cycle of behaviour can start (I am using negative but it is not even close to how dark somethings got) and how the cycle continues but I feel like there is hope at the end of the potential for these generational cycles to be broken.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, and Torture

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, and Car accident

This has a lot darker themes then the synopsis would suggest. You do read about a child being kidnapped and held in a looked room. You also can work out what is going on in the room where the 2 different women were held (one of which you meet after they have been there for 7 years already), and it does eventually being said / confirmed later in the book. However, you do not actually see what happens to these poor girls/women in this situation and you are reading about it from someone who never witnessed the worst of it. There is one racist character but they are confronted and challenged straight away and they face consequences which are so fitting. The book ends at the start of the 2020 pandemic so there is brief mention of it existing but no real detail about what it is or the effects. Mental health and trauma is also discussed and you do read transcripts from the first victim / person kidnapped, whilst in a psychiatric ward in the lead up before she commits suicide.

doubleereads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Torture, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Child abuse

karlzlee's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Torture, Racism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, and Violence

isahart7's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Torture, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Rape

samseyz's review

dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.0

This is heart breaking yet heart warming story that focuses a lot on trauma and grief. I really think marketing it as a thriller was not a good move because people who are expecting something intense or fast paced would likely think this is boring. This books is more emotionally intense than thrilling, in my opinion. I do think the ending felt kind of rushed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Torture, Alcohol, and Racism

nikki_jcf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide, Racism, and Death of parent

karenperry93's review

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexism, Grief, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Pandemic/Epidemic, Kidnapping, Incest, Homophobia, Car accident, Bullying, Pedophilia, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship

tedworm's review

dark mysterious sad fast-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 listened to this as an audiobook and finished it over two days of commutes and lunch breaks. Couldn't put it down! I liked the pacing and I found Sally hugely endearing, but I don't quite feel like it stuck the landing for me. Maybe I'm just not crimebrained enough but I wonder if I would have preferred this story as a novella purely about Sally, without Peter's POV chapters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Medical content, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Death, and Sexual violence

charli734's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

In the beginning I thought this book was as 4/5 star read, but I was disappointed by the ending. The first half of the book was really good, but later on the story dragged. Also as  mentioned above I have a problem with the ending, because for me it was hastily written. I understand what the author tried to achieve with this ending and I think I could have been great if the author had written it with more insight in the character. 
But to end this review with a positive note, I really liked the character development of Sally Diamond. It was understandable and for me it brought some sense of hope, which was beautiful (but sadly destroyed in the ending).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Mental illness

jo_jo_la_pinks's review

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

2.0

The book begins as though it will explore the challenging topic of neurodiversity and quickly escalates to a much sinister tale. Not for the faint hearted. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Child abuse