Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

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

32 reviews

withlivjones's review against another edition

3.75

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Jesus Christ this book is dark. Like, there were parts that made me feel ill reading them. 

That said, the book was gripping. The mystery was complex and very tense, and the twist had me shook. I didn’t particularly connect with any of the characters until the last part of the book, but then I suddenly found myself praying they’d all get out of the situation unharmed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Grief, Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Incest, Rape, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Death of parent

abernathy_33's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Incest, Suicide

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Vomit

addie's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit

tako's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping

Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Rape

esther_floraa's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Murder

abi_laura's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Violence

sangsmiles's review against another edition

4.25

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Torture, Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship

frmeden's review against another edition

3.0

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: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse

theunfinishedbookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse

alylentz's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I picked this up because of the comparisons to Donna Tartt and Tana French, so I went in with high expectations. I agree that this is a similar vibe and while I had a hard time getting into it initially, I ended up really liking it. I would say that I wish it was either in Helen or Mush's POV instead of rotating between 3, just because I would have liked to get to know one character on a deeper level instead of bouncing around so much. I also think there was maybe slightly too much going on plot-wise on the mystery level? But overall I think this is a strong debut and I hope to read more by this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Vomit

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse