Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld

20 reviews

sarahclaire's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Infidelity, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Sexual content, Sexism, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Rape, Miscarriage, Hate crime, Drug use, Death, Child abuse, Alcohol, and Grief

vipsahtanut's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Child abuse, Murder, Infertility, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent

my_a's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Rape, Alcohol, Misogyny, Murder, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Stalking, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual assault

Moderate: War, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

abbie_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.0

I finished The Bass Rock earlier in the week, and while it started out really strong, it ended up only being a middling read for me. I feel like Wyld had a great story with Ruth and Viviane, but then her publisher was like nah I think three would be better, so she had to quickly weave in Sarah’s storyline. It truly felt forgotten about, her share of chapters was nowhere near equal and every time I came across one it’d take me ages to remember what had been happening.

It’s not an easy read, as each of the narratives follows three generations of women, against the backdrop of the Scottish coast, whose lives are constantly being determined by the men in their lives. I found Viviane’s storyline the most compelling, especially with the addition of Maggie, a sex worker down on her luck who pulls no punches. Ruth’s storyline was also engaging, as she struggles to adjust to being a mother figure to her husband’s young boys, still grieving the death of their mother. But at times I thought Wyld was trying to tackle too many tough topics at once and as a result, they weren’t done quite enough justice.

Overall, a slightly muddled read that felt a bit heavy handed at times, but not mad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia

catha1na's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Murder, Misogyny, Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Sexism, Self harm, Death, Child death, Mental illness, Infidelity, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship

oleanderwillow's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

Reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca' and similar to Laura Purcell's books. Took me a week to read because of a reading slump but also because I needed time in between the chapters. This book is so full of realistic and heart-breaking violence against women and young boys that it is difficult to read, so I didn't rush it. You need to be in the right headspace to read this, and please take into account all the trigger warnings attached to this novel. Well-written, beautiful setting, realistic characters, wonderful book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

anna220310's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Misogyny, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death, Alcoholism, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage

Minor: War

This is very hard to read, emotionally, but a very important read. A masterful representation of the pervasiveness of violence against women throughout time, and a call for rebellion. Although The Bass Rock could be classified as gothic fiction, it is much too realistic to be called that, even though that fact is hard to stomach. Evie Wyld also does not only portray violence against women, but also the violence men enact on young boys, so it feels like a comprehensive portrayal of the ridiculously extensive normalisation of sexual violence that is integral to the patriarchal system. If anyone doesn't understand why it is dangerous to be a woman, today as well as throughout history, hand them this book.

franceselsie's review

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Murder, Stalking, Infidelity, Drug use, Grief, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Violence, Mental illness, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicide, Misogyny, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Cursing, and Animal death

azebrareads's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Infertility, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical content, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual assault, Ableism, Bullying, Torture, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Death, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

annekdotes's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, and Death of parent