Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Near the Bone by Christina Henry

52 reviews

graveyardreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Rape, and Sexual assault

anna_hepworth's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? No

5.0

I don't think I've read anything quite this dark recently. I knew going in that Henry tends to write at the darker end of what I am comfortable with, and this was even more so than expected. It does a fabulous job of bringing to the page a particular type of B-grade horror movie.

And while I absolutely loved it, I can't think of a single person, horror fan or no, to whom I could honestly recommend it. Henry has outdone themself in terms of WTAF.

I've seen in some other reviews complaints about the ambiguity, and the fact that there are story threads not resolved. I loved this -- this is not a story of resolution, it is a story of beginning. Almost as if it is a prequel to a very different story. And while I would be fascinated to find out how that story could come from this one, I'm not sure that I want to read it. 

some rather rambling thoughts, all of which are at least some spoilery:

• I had to put the book down about 20 pages from the end, just to take a breath, because I hadn't expected more than one person to make it off the mountain
• the juxtaposition of the human and cryptid monsters, their capriciousness, and the way that both make things worse for our protagonist is so well done
• I get the narrative reason for Mattie to make their own resolution, their own justice, but it frustrated me as a plot point
• the fact that there are no children at the beginning of the story made no sense. The sense that came as the story continued was awful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, and Miscarriage

I will have missed warnings; it is so very dark.

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

READ CONTENT WARNINGS
This book! It was highly recommended by a YouTuber I watch and you know what? It was really good. It was scary, especially so since I live in a wooded area and I read it at night. I'm glad I didn't read this in winter because then for sure I'd be even more scared. I do have some questions involving Mattie and the creature but the answers, or lack of them really, do not seriously detract from the book as a whole. Super fast paced and kept me interested the whole time.

I wish Griffin and Jen could've made it out of the mountains with CP and Samantha. Griffin was clearly a good dude and had good friends. Wish we could've found out about how they explained their deaths and how Samantha and CP carried on and healed afterwards. Def would've liked to see a Sam-Heather reunion after all those years

I need to read something light/feel good now since this was a pretty heavy book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit, Confinement, Drug use, and Grief

jordanem1995's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Animal death, Death of parent, and Gore

stephanieluxton's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The atmosphere in this book is fantastic. There's a couple frightening scenes in the beginning and I wish that tone was maintained more throughout the second half of the book. The ending was fine but I think it could have been better. Overall, I did really enjoy the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Confinement

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Animal death

Minor: Rape, Murder, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Infertility, and Drug use

mmwi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Animal death, Child death, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry

mapscitiesandsongs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

2.0

All in all this reading experience was disappointing, especially because BooksandLala recommended the book in one of her videos. The most annoying part of this book were the characters. They felt so unrealistic and one-dimensional. William is your typical abusive and religious lunatic that wants his wive all to himself and beats her up for disrespecting him/not being a good wife. I honestly didn‘t buy it. There was not depth to his character. He is just an archetype. Kiran Millwood Hargrave did a much better job at depicting an abusive and religious husband in The Mercies.  On a different note, what were those reactions and dialogs in the most terrifying moments?

A monster throws a human heart through the window? You know what, let's make grilled cheese. Your best friend gets strung up on a tree by his organs? I suddenly feel hungry and want some eggs. Like what?

  No human would react like that. Also what was the point of the whole scene with Mattie and C.P. in the cabin?

There is a creature and a kidnapper out there and they are having these chill conversations without paying attention to the very obvious threat outside. And what was William doing outside all the time? Were did he go? Why didn't the creature hunt him too when he was already injured and that creature supposedly only attacks weak/injured humans? It doesn't make any sense.

The ending was just the cherry on top. It was so rushed and we don't even find out what exactly the monster is. During some parts I felt like the monster was just some metaphor for William which would have made the story that much more interesting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, and Confinement

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Vomit

tormerritt's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

1.0

This book was awful... To be honest, one of the worst I've read in a while.
**SPOILERS AHEAD** because I need to discuss why this book was so terrible.

First, this book provided a blurb that was somewhat deceiving and didn't give necessary information.

All it stated about one of the main characters, William, is that he is always angry, not that he abuses and rapes Martha or "Mattie" (Samantha, her real name). That is so much more than anger and what bothered me is that the characters were so one-dimensional we know nothing about why William is the way he is.
There are so many plot holes and I have so many questions.
- The biggest question is what the actual f*ck is this "monster" that seems to be hunting them? It's never addressed in the story, except that it might be a bear, or bigfoot, or some cryptid creature. It's described to be so large and on a furious rampage, and attacks their friends in front of them, but they never see it? It's too unrealistic for me.
- What ever happened to Samantha's sister?
- Why are these characters laughing and discussing grilled cheese and cell phones when a human heart was just thrown through the window?
- Where was William hiding out at after Mattie, Jennifer, and C.P. locked themselves in the cabin?
- Why are they so nonchalant for watching their friends get murdered by some unknown creature, all the wile being injured themselves, sleep deprived, and running from this thing on the mountain.
I listened to the Audiobook so maybe it was the narrator, but I don't know of anyone who has so much discussion of casual topics and heavy inner dialogue while literally running for their lives.
The ending pissed me off. C.P.'s arm is bitten off by this creature, Mattie (Samantha) throws William off a cliff. Jennifer's unconscious body that they have been dragging down the mountain on a sled is taken by the creature thing. They suddenly find a road and a truck, jump in and drive to the nearest police station. C.P. falls asleep in the driver's seat and she walks in to the police station, and tells them her name is Samantha (the girl who has been kidnapped and missing for 12 years now). The end.

WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?
This was just so bad and terribly executed. I would not reccomend this to anyone.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

This book is filled with to the brim with Trigger Warnings, but none were provided before reading. Please read with caution.

rosemaryslibrarian's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Animal death, Blood, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Child abuse

kris_t97's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Very well-paced book showing the darkness of humanity and the unknown.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Confinement, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, and Torture

There are a lot of graphic themes in this story, so I wouldn't recommend it if these themes are triggering. More of the main character's background is shown later on, but from the first page, there is a lot of dangerous and problematic behaviour experience by her.