Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Sundial by Catriona Ward

5 reviews

kermit_the_wrong's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

Never really *got there*. It had potential but just fizzled out somewhere along the way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Infertility, and Body horror

fi_reads_books's review

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Death

Moderate: Miscarriage, Gore, Murder, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Gore, Kidnapping, Drug use, Infertility, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Addiction, and Gun violence

thehmkane's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Violence, Animal death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Murder, Misogyny, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Blood

cyanide_latte's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

I'm not sure what I can say here that hasn't been said better in other reviews, but I'm glad I read this one.  It's quite thought-provoking and dark, and it weighs pretty heavy, all things considered. I'd guessed a lot of the twists early on but that's not a bad thing. This isn't one I'm sure I'll keep, but it was compulsively readable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, Abandonment, Child death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse

soobooksalot's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

Two wins from author Catriona Ward!
 Thank you to Tor Nightfire for my gifted copy for review!
 Ward's previous novel, The Last House On Needless Street, was a five-star read for me. Emotional horror. 
 Her newest, Sundial, hits those same notes but in a completely different and bizarre story. Domestic horror.
 Rob and Irving's marriage is awful. Their two daughters see it, and have issues of their own. At the age of 12, Callie still talks to an invisible friend named Pale Callie, and collects animal bones. Possibly that she procured herself. Annie is Rob's favourite daughter, but what mother can admit she has a favourite?
 Desperate for solutions, Rob and Callie travel to her childhood home in the Mojave desert, known as Sundial. It's like a compound. And more.
 Chapters alternate between present-day, and Rob's upbringing at Sundial with twin sister Jack. It's equally dark and fascinating. 
 Reality can be questioned and unease runs throughout. Touches of sci-fi add to the twists and reveals.
 Ward's writing style is stunning, making this unsettling story even more of a standout. Lots of triggers to be mindful of, however. 
 For those who like unique and well-written horror/suspense, recommended!
 For release on March 1.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Death, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage