Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Särmikäs Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

177 reviews

nataliereads101's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious 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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Quite dark, original, unsettling. I found  'Peters Narration' the most interesting and disturbing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Stalking, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

sulimin's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional sad tense medium-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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Pregnancy

Moderate: Lesbophobia

Minor: Car accident

dianapiskor's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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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This book left me speechless because I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did. Don’t get me wrong, it’s VERY dark and you should look at the triggers before you start. But it was well written, nuanced, and engrossing. And the ending! 

When the book starts, it seems like it will be similar to that of Eleanor Oliphant, with a neurodivergent FMC who wants to adapt to a more complex life beyond the confines of the sheltered life she has created for herself. But then this book CHANGES and it is more layered and complex than the audience expects. I don’t want to spoil it, because I think knowing more about it ruins the journey of the narrative. However, story the author crafts is one that makes you think of humanity and its many different ways of manifesting in people, as well as the choices people make that define them. And, honestly, no matter how Sally behaves, you can’t help rooting for her as she discovers more about her past and how she wants her future to be. 

Overall, while a dark book, it is one that makes you think, all while making you want to turn the page. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy

lianne_rooney's review against another edition

3.5

challenging mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Racism, Sexual violence, Kidnapping

patibeatriz's review against another edition

4.75

dark mysterious sad 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: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment

lud01's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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 demorou um pouco para engatar no começo, mas depois foi uma leitura rápida e fluida, gostei e acabei gostando dos personagens

mas fiquei um pouco triste com o final

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy

astoriareader's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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SYNOPSIS

• Sally can’t remember anything before her 7th birthday. She was adopted by a couple, and she doesn’t recall life before them.
• Sally is in her 40s now, and her father recently passed from cancer. Her mother had died some time ago. Sally has always been a loner, and she has struggled socially. She gets severe anxiety when dealing with others. 
• Peter’s story intertwines, and it starts when he is a young boy in the 1970s. 

MY THOUGHTS

• Heavy topics.
• Seamlessly woven together.
• Writing flows so well. Impossible to put down.
• Compelling, engrossing, & devastating read.
• Two POVs + alternates between past & present.
• Well-developed characters. Loved getting to learn the back stories.
• It’s impossible to not root for Sally!

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Compelling, engrossing, & devastating read. Finished in 24 hrs.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping

Moderate: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia

cafemielgirl's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: No

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, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic

whatnovareads's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Note to self: Pay more attention to the blurb on the back of the book before you start reading! 

OMG. So I thought this might be a spooky slightly unsettling read. Nope it not. It’s definitely scary but a dark twisted psychological scary! Once the dual POV started, I was hooked. I won’t say too much to avoid spoilers other than this is a deeply disturbing and, in places, harrowing read - maybe because it’s completely plausible, in fact you will recall various news stories whilst reading this. There should be more trigger warnings! That being said, there are also heartwarming parts and moments when I laughed out loud. 

Definately a worthwhile read but be warned it’s heartbreaking and chilling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship

plant_mum's review against another edition

3.5

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Well, this was dark. It started off so good - strong characters, creepy storyline, still funny at times. However, the ending was a bit disappointing - just didn't feel realistic after the characters' development.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Murder