Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Resort by Sara Ochs

17 reviews

mstall_'s review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

The Resort by Sara Ochs is exactly what you need to tide you over until the new season of White Lotus airs. Set in Thailand (much like White Lotus' newest season will be), The Resort follows a group of ex-pats who live and work on a remote island resort. All of them appear to be running from something, and none of them care to share what that is.

The book pivots between two POVs, Brooke and Cass. At first it can feel a little annoying, especially because they sound alike as you're reading so sometimes it can feel confusing. Once you get the hang of it though the book is easy to sail through.

We find out early on the someone has died, but we don't know who. We also don't know who killed them. For the next 400ish pages we are uncovering the mystery along with the main characters as more people are killed. Cass, an expat living in Thailand to escape the deaths of her sister and father, is fearful that her past has now caught up to her and is threatening to ruin everything she's tried to rebuild. Brooke, a travel influencer, is committed to discovering who is killing resort guests and to enact revenge of her own.

At first I didn't think I was going to finish this book because I often hate thrillers that start "too hot" i.e. the prologue is a violent death of an unknown character and it's chaotic and unclear. However, I gave this book another shot and I'm glad I did. The first few chapters are chaotic and somewhat annoying but the rest of the book starts to pick up speed and you fly through it. There are twists and turns until the literal last page, which I love. The ending of this book had me thinking "oh SHIT". Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Death

bex4dayz's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Violence, and Sexual violence

Minor: Police brutality

atunk15's review

medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Rape, and Murder

Minor: Drug abuse

hjpixx's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

2.5

Read this one for a Mom book club and while it was a solid enjoyable 3 stars until the end...I hated all the twists.  Way too many twists at the end that seemed chaotic and confusing.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity

eliza_beth_23's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Rape, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, and Alcohol

Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Mental illness

kylieqrada's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

I hate giving bad reviews, but this did not work for me. Some of the elements felt vaguely offensive, and the writing was just not it. I did finish it, cuz I wanted to know the ending. Which was…. An ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, and Rape

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Self harm and Adult/minor relationship

melinda_sue124's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I will write an indepth review after I let my thoughts settle. But overall it was a good book imo, it definitely seemed by the synopsis it was like the movie fantasy Island meets a murderous TV show/game minus the prize money at the end and it was definitely not that lol. But more thoughts to come. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Murder, Violence, Toxic friendship, Police brutality, Death of parent, Blood, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Self harm, Rape, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Colonisation, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail

emviolet's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

this was an okay thriller until the last third, when everything g started to feel a bit rushed and jumbled. i think there was just too much going on and too many twists being attempted instead of just letting the story have a few main elements. the epilogue also was not a good move in my opinion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Blood, and Mental illness

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

More like a 3.5. A little convoluted. Character development was a bit superficial - partially because there were too many. Entertaining enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Suicide attempt, Rape, Death, Infidelity, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Sexual violence, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Murder

idk_indigo's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

1.0

I thoroughly hated the ending. Just because something is unexpected does not mean it's a good twist. Ugh. 

Also, heavy trigger warning for rape; such a meaningless & horrible scene that added nothing at all to the plot. Authors need to learn how to write about SA without being blech about it. Ew ew. 

Audiobook was confusing, hard to follow. All around meh. I'm annoyed. 

I may come back later & update my review because I am in quite a mood now. Maybe not. Dont know. I'm too upset about this stupid audiobook. 

Oh & also, I extremely hate when people say that they "knew all along" because that is not true and maybe that's the point of the ending bc

the killer is not who the other characters think it is

; but it's such a stupid saying that I don't want it in my books. Ugh

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Murder, Suicide attempt, Violence, Blood, and Sexism