Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Kala: 'A spectacular read for Donna Tartt and Tana French fans' by Colin Walsh

32 reviews

jadekatiebee's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Complicated

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I honestly wasn’t expecting a 5 star book when this was recommended to me. I thought I’d like it, but that it would be a slow march through 400 pages.
I was so wrong.
I hung onto every single word. I ate it up. I didn’t know which turn was coming next.
As someone who grew up in a small Irish town with shady characters, I found this not only believable but it resonated with me.
There are one or two loose ends, but I think this is the only time a loose end has been justified. The ending can make or break a book for me, and I’m so satisfied with this ending!
Would recommend if you have time to get embedded into mystery without things feeling unrealistic, if you feel nostalgic about the 2000s, alternative teen years, have strong feelings about the horrors of Irish culture without reading anything too graphic and grim, and love a summer setting with eerie night descriptions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Incest, Sexual assault, Murder

The triggering content isn’t very graphic. Only the

animal abuse scene

was graphic enough for me to skim the description. There are also some graphic descriptions of violence, but I’m squeamish and I could handle it. All other triggers (other than murder being the main plot point) are vague.

smcdowell698's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Captivating and dark 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Rape, Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Incest

gmj6's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Violence

Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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It feels like Kala is the kind of book I should have savoured. The writing is so rich and so beautiful, but steeped in sadness. And I took it slow, for maybe the first half. But then I just couldn't put it down, no matter how tense and heartbreaking it was.

I got massive Chris Whittaker vibes - this quiet narrative, multiple perspectives and a plot filled with tragedy that spans decades. Ireland (and Kinlough) is a stunning, bleak backdrop that mirrors the story in its wildness.

I loved the way Helen, Mush and Joe's chapters have completely different styles; Helen's analytical and keeping her emotions at bay (at first), Mush filled with nostalgia, and Joe feeling outside of it all with the second-person narrative. The way the past builds up with their memories is just brilliant.

I could see what was coming at the end, but I don't think it needed to be a big twist. It felt more like a kick when you're already down, and left me desperately striving for the good. Which is there, in the relationships that are left behind. I'm haunted by this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder

Moderate: Child abuse

orlagal's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

katiemoonshep's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad 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

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Was a solid 4+ stars for probably the first 90%.

Loved the character development and story in general, great slow build. Hoooooowever, while the twists/reveals were good, as the pace picked up towards the very end, I felt the writing style lost its uniqueness and read like your standard crime novel, which isn’t really my thing. 

Also something evolved in the tone and portrayal of the girl and women characters to make me become keenly aware that it was written by a man. Something to think on a bit more for me…

Did a mix of audio and physical book and both were really good formats.

Lots of love from the founding president of the Mush fan club xoxo

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Suicide

kmwaller9's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship

Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Pregnancy

aliengirlreads's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia

erincies's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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very slow to start but picks up the pace after a bit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis

vampferr's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Just wow. A heartbruiser of a book. But so worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment

Minor: Incest, Rape