Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

41 reviews

brit0929's review against another edition

dark 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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Child abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Gore, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Torture, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, and Physical abuse

hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

They almost had me with that fake out at the end but I’m so glad it ended how it did. I can’t fathom how the justice system will handle the latest events of the house but that ain’t my business, I suppose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Grief

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Fun twist on a haunted house story for sure. I walked into the book expecting a good cozy horror mystery. I walked out of it feeling like I got my fill of a good haunted house tale AND a thoughtful exploration into how our lives and the people in them can shape the decisions we make. 

Margaret was a character that you couldn't help but root for. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, and Death

Moderate: Violence, Torture, and Vomit

izypup's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

I love when women 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gore, Murder, Child death, Body horror, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Addiction, Confinement, Death of parent, Cannibalism, Animal death, Torture, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

tarfishy's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Torture, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Gore, Physical abuse, Child death, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Death

priscillarobock'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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Murder, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Self harm, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Vomit, Blood, and Body horror

audreyleighreads's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, Body horror, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Torture, Animal death, Child abuse, Blood, and Emotional abuse

rebeshelton's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

 

"The September House" is a must-read! This debut novel is a thrilling mix of chills and chuckles that had me hooked from the first page.

Margaret, our fearless heroine, is the kind of character you can't help but root for. She's got this dream Victorian house on Hawthorn Street, which, surprise surprise, turns out to be haunted. Think walls dripping blood every September, and ghosts that are more scared than scary. It's this unique blend of serious horror with an almost campy, humorous edge that makes this book stand out. I found myself laughing out loud several times, which is not something you'd expect from a haunted house story! It's very akin to Grady Hendrix's style of writing.

What really struck a chord with me, though, was the underlying theme of domestic violence. It's handled with such care and depth. Margaret's journey from being gaslit and abused to finding her strength and standing her ground in this bizarre, haunted house is nothing short of inspiring. It's a powerful narrative that resonates deeply, especially in those heart-wrenching moments where she's doubted by the police and even starts doubting herself.

I absolutely loved this read and was incredibly connected to all the characters!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Addiction, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Murder, Torture, Alcoholism, and Gore

Moderate: Cannibalism

chainsawheartbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book might have taken a while to get in to, but my god once it did it took off!
There were certainly really dark elements wrapped up at the heart of this story, but it handled things in such a good, honest and raw way. 
It’s a haunted house tale that is sure to stay with me for a long time, having planted its roots deep in my brain, as the house has with Margaret. 
A trigger warning of child abuse, alcoholism, as well as domestic and emotional abuse is something that’s important to share, but, in my personal opinion (and personal experience with emotional abuse), it’s handled with the upmost care. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Child abuse, Child death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, and Animal death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Self harm, Vomit, and Cursing

heartofhorrors's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Murder, Animal death, Death of parent, Blood, Physical abuse, Vomit, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Torture, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse