Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Penance by Eliza Clark

151 reviews

cadence99's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.5

What a VISCERAL experience of a book as a woman who grew up online in the 2010’s- this has so many elements that made it a perfect read for me: the most unreliable narrator, niche tumblr cringe, and true crime community critique. This is definitely a unique experience of a book that I wouldn’t recommend to just anyone BUT it worked SO well for me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Xenophobia, Vomit, Police brutality, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

grahammoore's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, and Rape

sophie______a's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

applejuiceinabox's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

elinorrae's review against another edition

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

5.0

Incredible book!!!!! Super engaging and thought provoking. Love the critique of true crime but simultaneous fascination with it, it felt very human. Some very dark themes but will definitely reread! Really liked the conversations around fan communities

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape

jessisamess's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

this book was a really interesting and relevant take on social media and fandom culture, which may be difficult for older generations to understand and perhaps why some critics have been slightly confused, but as somebody who has grown up in this era of tumblr and stan culture, i find this to have a nuanced take on it and the real-world impact of such a parasocial culture.  i think the unreliable narrator was done very well and i like how we get to see all the perspectives.

at times it does border on being almost too humanising and too excusing of the murder but i think that may be because of the unreliable narrator

the structure of this book is great as well, as we progress from victim to ringleader and kind of see all the perspectives. this is probably the best and most accurate depiction of social media in a book i have seen.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Bullying

tessa_specchio's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

woah 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Racism, Police brutality, and Kidnapping

esmem's review against another edition

challenging mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

nialystic's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Bullying, Child death, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Lesbophobia, and Classism

Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Self harm, Stalking, Outing, and Sexual harassment

florenceassetto'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? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

i really liked this one! part of me wishes it was not read during exam season but it is also the only thing that has kept me sane(ish) so i have to be thankful! the speculative aspect of the book in it's entirety is something i found really interesting and i REALLY enjoyed the messaging and commentary it does on the real world - i find it particularly interesting and especially well delivered. this is almost definitely a book that is going to haunt me for a while but for all the best reasons, most definitely a read i would recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Vomit