Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Near the Bone by Christina Henry

173 reviews

allie_hil's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Kidnapping

violetwraith's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry

jillprior's review against another edition

2.0

Not horrible, not great

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Gore

stephanieluxton's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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

3.75

The atmosphere in this book is fantastic. There's a couple frightening scenes in the beginning and I wish that tone was maintained more throughout the second half of the book. The ending was fine but I think it could have been better. Overall, I did really enjoy the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Blood

Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

madisonpages98's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This book was such a good, fast horror story. It was easy to jump right in. The story was extremely interesting and really picks up starting on page one. I never felt like there was a dull moment. It was easy to follow but wasn't so simple that it was boring. However, I will say that I would've liked a bit more background on our main character. It almost seems unrealistic that the main character would

forget absolutely everything about her life before. The character was eight years old and even with the abuse, it seems that she would have at least remembered something.

In conclusion, I really loved this book and found myself feeling totally spooked! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Murder

mmwi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

breazatoth's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Miscarriage

charliellewellyn's review against another edition

dark sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

An absolutely harrowing, disgusting page turner. I loved every second of it, even when it made me furious or nearly brought me to tears. Immense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

wallabystew's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy

mapscitiesandsongs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? No

2.0

All in all this reading experience was disappointing, especially because BooksandLala recommended the book in one of her videos. The most annoying part of this book were the characters. They felt so unrealistic and one-dimensional. William is your typical abusive and religious lunatic that wants his wive all to himself and beats her up for disrespecting him/not being a good wife. I honestly didn‘t buy it. There was not depth to his character. He is just an archetype. Kiran Millwood Hargrave did a much better job at depicting an abusive and religious husband in The Mercies.  On a different note, what were those reactions and dialogs in the most terrifying moments?

A monster throws a human heart through the window? You know what, let's make grilled cheese. Your best friend gets strung up on a tree by his organs? I suddenly feel hungry and want some eggs. Like what?

  No human would react like that. Also what was the point of the whole scene with Mattie and C.P. in the cabin?

There is a creature and a kidnapper out there and they are having these chill conversations without paying attention to the very obvious threat outside. And what was William doing outside all the time? Were did he go? Why didn't the creature hunt him too when he was already injured and that creature supposedly only attacks weak/injured humans? It doesn't make any sense.

The ending was just the cherry on top. It was so rushed and we don't even find out what exactly the monster is. During some parts I felt like the monster was just some metaphor for William which would have made the story that much more interesting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Pregnancy