Reviews tagging 'Death'

These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall

6 reviews

wildroseoftexas's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

I struggle with writing a review for this book. I originally selected it for a reading challenge of reading a book by a new-to-me black author in February. The storyline was very intriguing and the author has several books out with generally positive reviews, but…

This book was S.L.O.W. 

I felt the book finally picked up around 80% and then wrapped up very quickly with an epilogue-feeling conclusion. 

I generally dislike monologue conclusions to thrillers and mysteries. Where the reader is left nearly completely in the dark until the villain makes a grand stand and explains all the things in 10 pages. It’s annoying. I want to guess and theorize and feel caught off guard if there’s a twist. This book didn’t do that for me. 

On top of that, the main character was super annoying. Yes, she’s only 24 so she’s I don’t expect wise and mature, but she was really really… Ditzy? Shallow? Dependent? Immature? Just generally unlikable. 

It wasn’t a terrible read, but it’s not one I’ll readily recommend to my fellow thriller readers, either. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content

harveyjoy53's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicide, Physical abuse, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Kidnapping, Dementia, Gun violence, and Rape

brynhayes's review

dark mysterious 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Confinement, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Gaslighting, Gore, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, and Stalking

amandas_bookshelf's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Blood, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, Stalking, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, and Domestic abuse

boba_n_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.0

An interesting read with twists and turns that kept my attention. The memory bank is an interesting concept, and I love the way it played into the mystery of the book. Think of it as the Dread Pirate Roberts of serial killers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Death, and Grief

britgirlreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Stalking

Moderate: Murder, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Medical content, Mental illness, and Medical trauma