Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Särmikäs Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

39 reviews

lg_02's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Great book, difficult to read at times because of dark subject matter. Disappointing ending

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic

trish_reading12's review against another edition

3.25

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I have read and really enjoyed Liz Nugent’s previous books but found this one difficult to read at times due to the subject matter. I took a break from reading this book before returning to finish it. Liz Nugent is a talented author and all of her books are well written. 

I would recommend reading the content warnings before reading this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

mamawantsbooks's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Classism

Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic

lcg527's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy

cin19's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Pregnancy

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

soobooksalot's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol

onemorepagecrew's review against another edition

5.0

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Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent was exactly what I was looking for – a grim, dual-timeline mystery that held my attention and felt borderline sad.  I know, I know… what is wrong with me lol.  But hear me out!  I read so many thrillers and they can get so over-the-top and unrealistic for the sake of a twist.  The ones that are realistic hold my attention more these days, even though they are typically awful scenarios.  

 

In this story, we meet Sally as an adult who is living with her adoptive father.  It’s clear Sally has trouble connecting to others with neurotypical societal responses, but it’s not clear why.  Over the course of the book, we see her childhood and her adulthood and it all becomes clear, through a methodical reveal.  It’s not some big mystery to solve or a twist to keep you on your toes, it’s like a grim explanation with a few unexpected moments along the way. 

 

This was one of my favorite reads in July, and exactly what I look for in a psychological thriller.  It’s twisted and kind of grisly, but I still found ways to empathize and connect with characters.  I’d recommend this for anyone who enjoys a medium-paced unraveling of a messed-up story, with full resolution and carefully woven together timelines.  

 

Content warnings: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Racism, Self-harm 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Kidnapping

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide

tbretc's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, Pregnancy

mariasmusings's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Oh Sally, I found myself cheering you on, 
being frustrated with you and giving out to any character that dared upset you! Reading 'Strange Sally Diamond' has been tumultuous from an emotional perspective and I mean that in a positive manner. Liz Nugent creates the most brilliantly complex, intricate characters and as always, I found myself completely absorbed in the storyline and had to continue reading until I finished the book. I had to know what happened to Sally, Mark, Peter.
Another epic novel from a one of tye best writers around. Do yourself a favour and add to your reading list for 2023 NOW!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Dementia, Death of parent

Moderate: Gaslighting