Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven

43 reviews

bookworm_mcgee's review

adventurous dark 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Murder

devmac724's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I heard about this book on My Favorite Murder (the podcast) and I was intrigued. I have never read a book like this before and I loved it. The whole concept of this book really made me think about how I would handle myself had I been in that situation. I know this is fiction and for entertainment, but damn this was a thinker. 
The interview style of writing was great! It made me want to keep reading to find out what happened next from another person’s perspective. 

Brock Hockney’s interview was, in my opinion, the most honest and most upsetting. As I was reading it, I could picture myself there and hearing him talk and the comment about human flesh at the end of the interview shook me. I listen to a lot of true crime podcast and that got me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Cannibalism

papa_tabby's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book. Hands down the best chapter is Interview 18. I couldn't stop reading, easily one of the most tense pages I've read in years. 

I also love how almost every character is a little psychotic and clearly trying to make themselves sound less bad or downplay their roles in the violence at the theme park. This is something I like that Mike Bockoven does, he doesn't allow the characters to get away with portraying themselves sympathetically, he undermines their claims in either the next chapter or two later. 

There's also the mystery of who are the serial killers walking in the park and how much they actually played in escalating the violence. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing and Gaslighting

forevercamp's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Cannibalism

stacylaughs's review

dark tense 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? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

ej_trask's review

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement and War

andiballi's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

courtneys_shelves's review

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

k8scoll's review

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I thought this book was such an interesting take on a very common theme: what happens to humanity when the worst happens. The backdrop of an amusement park, and the interview style made me want to keep reading. I finished the book wanting more perspectives, but that wouldn’t have added to the story itself. Loved it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

errie's review against another edition

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Cannibalism