Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

21 reviews

naomi_k's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Dysphoria, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Gore, Body horror, Confinement, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Vomit

Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts

erandle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Drug use, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Confinement, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Grief

aardwyrm'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? Yes

4.5

The secondary world element elevates the thing and frees up the story to play with all kinds of spooky occultist stuff without any concern for history (though some of that constructed history is... questionable, and doesn't serve much purpose; everyone deciding to collectively be atheist after a world war is a jarring note that fades into the background as the story goes on). The gothic mystery and tension building and inevitable descent into chaos are all well handled, though honestly I could never care all that much about Augustine, who comes across as a tedious drip at best. Scary and tight enough to be riveting while you read it, though, and the flaws come clear only on reflection. What more can you ask?

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical content, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

hannah1734's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

A mysterious and enticing read! I was integrated by Jane's character from the very beginning and loved following her as she unraveled clues from her husband's past. I will say that the ending was a bit of a confusing fever dream—but that may just be because I read this book over three weeks, so previous plot points started to get hazy. Regardless, I still really enjoyed this book, thank you London for the recommendation!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Self harm

house_of_hannah's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

What a fresh take on the gothic horror genre. This book is definitely longer than it needs to be, as it does drag in the last 150 pages, but it is quite interesting, and left me guessing through the whole story. The summary gives nothing away, so I was surprised at some of the elements included.

One of the things I found odd about the book though, is that it doesn't take place in our world for some reason. The name of the country is Great Breltain, with very English sounding town names, so it was obvious what the area was based on. Just seemed like an uneeded change that actually took me out of the story whenever the country was mentioned.

This also isn't a book that you can just casually read and expect to understand everything. This thing is going to take some thought. There is even a chapter that is written in a purposefully confusing way, which I understand the intention behind it, but man did my head hurt a bit. I'm still not sure if I understand everything correctly.

This was close to being a five star read, but the things I've mentioned previously, plus some little things throughout the story, brought it down to a four for me. For example, I have never seen so many perfectly timed rain storms before in my life. There were just too many perfect coincidences for my taste.

However, I really enjoyed the writing, and I thought it brought to life the imagery so well. I feel like all the characters had value, and no one was a throw-away. The plot is well thought out, which I appreciate so freaking much. Jane is also a fantastic character, and if you're looking for a strong female protagonist who does not scream, "I'm not like other girls", then this book is for you !

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Confinement, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child death and Drug use

Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Vomit, Abandonment, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Self harm, and War

smitinghedgehog's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Self harm

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Death of parent

lillianreadsalot's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? Yes

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual content

laurajones's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Drug use, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and War

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Excrement, Terminal illness, and Vomit

mo345's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Alcohol and Forced institutionalization

hanarama's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

 The Good:
• Intelligent MC
• Eerie setting
• Building tension

The Bad:
• Ending feels odd
• The larger world setting

You Might Like This if You Like:
• Crimson Peak 
• Netflix's The Haunting of Bly Manor and The Haunting of Hill House 

I feel like this book very nearly gave me what I wanted from it. The growing tension was excellent. The ghosts spooky. The secret society gave me Hellfire Club vibes. All this was great. However, I feel like it failed in the payoff and in some of the details outside of the central plot. 

I honestly have no idea why this story takes place in a separate world from our own. The setting is so similar to Victorian England, it feels bizarre that it's not. It's almost distracting to have made up places brought up in a genre that is more commonly set in real world locals. 

The final reveal of the story is okay. It just felt like a bit of a letdown after the events of the book. I expected things to go in a different direction, and despite some minor hints, this wasn't made really clear until very far into the story. 

A highlight of this story though is in the characters. Jane Shoringfield is an excellent character for a Gothic horror. She's smart and practical, making her later transformations all the more jarring. Dr. Lawrence is moody and confident, with a strong Byronic energy that fits the setting. 

In the end, this will probably appeal to fans of Netflix's Haunting series. The twist reminds me of the show, and less of a more traditional Gothic story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Self harm