Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

73 reviews

annreadsabook's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Abortion

sonygaystation's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Not to be exceedingly callous but this book feels like it’s a 17 year old’s first novel posted on wattpad chapter by chapter. All THAT for a man??? One poorly written cliché after another. Also hated the way the women were written lmao and Flo was such an upsetting character like why do crime novels always have to hinge on memory loss and emotional instability? Anyway at least it was a super quick read (and I admit I was morbidly curious about how much more it could annoy me enough to keep from DNFing) even though sometimes it did kind of feel like pulling teeth. Think if you like crime novels this is a good one to pick up in the airport and read on the plane only to leave it behind for the next flyer 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, Abortion, and Pregnancy

rishel's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Murder

herbivorereader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Car accident, and Murder

unboxedjack's review against another edition

dark tense

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Abortion

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Abortion

nxclx's review against another edition

• 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

3.75

It's not quite a 4 star, I didn't particularly like the 75% mark twist. Other than that it's a 4 star. I understand how it plays into the rest of the story, but that doesn't seem like a good twist to focus in on, personally.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Abortion

Moderate: Drug use, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Pedophilia

abitdicier's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, and Car accident

Moderate: Drug use, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Abortion

thatsssorachael's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.0

This was a miss for me. I guessed the ending very early on, and I thought the clues were way too obvious. The characters were so unlikeable and weak. The writing and dialogue could have also used some cleaning up, it got a little clunky here and there. 

I was intrigued enough to finish it, but I can't say I liked the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Gore, Suicide, and Murder

xx_coco's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Nora hasn't seen her childhood best friend, Clare, for over ten years. When she receives an invitation to Clare's bachelorette party Nora is beyond confused, she can't imagine a single reason for the sudden invite out of the blue. Despite her reluctance, Nora decides it wouldn't hurt to pay a visit to an old friend before her wedding. The festivities kick off normal enough, but as the weekend devolves into a wild, unpredictable party, Nora feels that something isn't quite right. What could go wrong in a secluded cabin the woods? 

Let's start off with the positives: this was a quick read, but that's about it. The structure of the mystery was pretty standard and the set up was one I'm familiar with. Take a group of near strangers, isolate them, and it's the perfect opportunity for something shocking to happen. The plot had promise, but the execution could have been better. I spent a lot of this book wondering when something was going to happen because so many moments read like filler–there were long stretches of stagnant plot before the story gets going. Even when the story gets going it's difficult to get into because the characters are flat and fairly annoying. There isn't a chance to get to know anyone in depth beyond Nora really, and I didn't enjoy my time spent with her inner monologue if I'm being blunt. 

I wasn't a fan of the back and forth between the present and the events of the bachelorette party. It did create mystery around the big event that sets the second half of the book in motion, but the whole memory loss trope is hit or miss. Without that one aspect the entire mystery would fall apart.

The main reason this book suffers is the characterization of Nora. She's naive, whiney, and I had a hard time believing she would have accepted the invitation to Clare's bachelorette party once the big reveal happens. The plot relies on a lot of unbelievable circumstances lining up perfectly for the story to unfold the way it does. I couldn't suspend my disbelief that much. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Medical trauma