Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

46 reviews

harleyqueen's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Sall was just doing what her father said and put him out with the rubbish. Upon her father's death some dark secrets come out about who she really is and what her childhood was really like. This is her navigating her past whilst trying to build her future ... amazing autism rep 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Torture, Rape, Pregnancy, and Child abuse

sineadhg's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Child abuse, Violence, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

bek67's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a challenging review to write. I had a hold on this book for quite awhile so when it came in, I had completely forgotten the subject matter. But even reading the synopsis, I was not prepared for this book. I thought Sally was a neurodivergent adult. She was direct (blunt might be a better description) and did not perceive social cues or had a clue what is considered socially inappropriate. I wasn't expecting a light hearted read, but I also was not expecting the significant amount of childhood trauma described in this book. It is rough stuff, so if kidnapping and child abuse is too much you better pass on this book.

This book explores how childhood trauma impacted the central character.

Sally is born and raised in captivity with her mother. Her mother who was kidnapped and raped when she was 11. ELEVEN! I was so grossed out by this fact, but the details keep coming and then you understand why she has absolutely no memory of her childhood before age 7. Her abductor bio-dad is a racist, misogynist, abusive and cruel human being. I celebrated with glee when he burned to death in a car accident at the hands of his son. 

Sally's character is so odd but yet you still want her to become all she can be. I was cheering her on as she forged friendships. I like how this story acknowledged that Sally really did not know how to feel and process things. It looked at how fucked up her adoptive dad was too and how he realized too late that he did not do right by Sally.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book but the subject matter was much heavier and harder to read than I thought it would be. I was a bit surprised by the ending of this one. If you decide to read, go into this with your eyes wide open knowing parts will be very uncomfortable.   

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Rape, Torture, and Violence

cheryl_gager's review

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 against another edition

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 against another edition

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