Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Bálnahullás by Daniel Kraus

97 reviews

m_moon's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

anna_dunn's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Blood, and Death of parent

aprilb_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

jenmcvay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Animal death, Gore, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pandemic/Epidemic

septi's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Pandemic/Epidemic

pbraue13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus is a gripping, atmospheric suspense novel that pulls you into the depths of the ocean and into the raw emotions of its characters. The tension and stakes are palpable from the first page, as we follow Jay, a young man who finds himself trapped inside a whale after a diving expedition goes horribly wrong. Kraus's writing vividly brings to life the claustrophobic, perilous environment inside the whale, making every heartbeat feel like a countdown to survival.

Yet, Whalefall is more than just a survival thriller. At its heart, it is a profound exploration of grief and the complicated, often strained relationships between fathers and sons. Jay's journey isn't just a physical one—it's also a deeply emotional reckoning with the loss of his father, a man whose expectations and absence have haunted Jay for years. As Jay grapples with his predicament, flashbacks to his relationship with his father add layers to the story, turning it into a poignant examination of love, regret, and the desperate need for closure.

Kraus masterfully balances the high-stakes action with these emotional undercurrents, making Whalefall not only a page-turner but also a thoughtful meditation on how we carry our grief and how, sometimes, survival isn't just about escaping physical danger but also confronting the ghosts that linger in our minds. This novel is a powerful, immersive experience that stays with you long after the final page.

4/5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Death of parent

richardlvargas's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.25

Though it has a slow start, Whalefall becomes a suspenseful and unique story of survival and loss. A young man dealing with the death of his father, whom he had a complicated relationship, ends up in a truly horrific survival scenario - trapped inside a sperm whale. 

Told in a third person stream of consciousness, Whalefall is a journey through the young man’s life before this, and how his relationships with his family brought him here. It is a bit tragic at times, and also gruesome in some ways as well. Jonah in the whale, this is not. It’s also very realistic and scientifically accurate. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Blood

Minor: Suicide

kylieqrada's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.5

UGH I feel so torn about this one. Daniel Kraus’ writing is gorgeous and so lyrical. Mix that with scientifically accurate whale lore and a poignant exploration of father-son relationships. Very confusing mash-up that kinda worked for me? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Terminal illness, Vomit, and Pandemic/Epidemic

swampthoughts's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.5

High survival and childhood trauma but in a whale

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Death of parent

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic