Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh

21 reviews

jessdownes's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Vomit

Minor: Animal death and Alcohol

jcue_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

1.5

This book has an interesting plot that, for me, was not executed well. The characters were very well written, however, the writing became abstract but not in a way that suited this story or the characters, except maybe Grace - at the end. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gaslighting, and Confinement

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

agustdefault's review

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

i loved the way this was written. i know there are a lot of complaints about the ending being so vague but i actually kind of liked it. especially since the reader only has as much knowledge as the sisters. incredibly haunting and definitely one i will think of often

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Torture, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Child abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Child death, Grief, Gun violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Incest

sc1398's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I couldn’t put this book down. It disturbed me so much but I NEEDED to know what would happen next! It was mysterious and gripping in the deepest ways possible. It was a great read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child death, Blood, Physical abuse, Torture, Confinement, and Pregnancy

Minor: Self harm

kitten_nuisance's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

1.  Comp titles are evil and should be abolished.  I get why it makes sense for marketing, in the sense of getting rid of the books in exchange for money.  But how many people are satisfied vs. disappointed or even affronted by the comp titles used???  I am more often disappointed, for sure. 

This book really has almost nothing whatsoever to do with The Handmaid’s Tale.  I think that was chosen just to get attention.  I really can’t rant and rave the way I would like about the ways in which the two VASTLY DIFFER, to the point of being near opposites, without spoiling the books.  

 

2.  I actually wanted to read this before I knew of the comp titles, so it’s not their fault alone.  This book is described as a “feminist dystopia,” but I would not really describe it as. . . either thing.  I don’t know how the genres are so far off the mark, actually.  Science fiction?  Fantasy?  Magical realism??  There is an element to why this family lives an isolated life that *may* be true as stated and explained by something. . . science fictional. . . but we don’t even really have reason to believe that’s true.  Some events in the book would lead us to believe that there actually is nothing in this world different from our own, so I guess. . . whatever.  The book didn’t feel like telling us! 

 

There are some insightful lines in the book that are written in an appealing way.  The characters are interesting, if exhausting.  Overall, though, I just don’t know that the story told here was worth my time, sad to say.  There are key facts that are revealed at weird times, or never revealed, that would really change one’s experience in reading the book. . . I’m not someone who always has to know every detail, but these are important things.  I don’t really see the point of what I read otherwise.  

I’m unfortunately feeling some big Emperor’s New Clothes energy in the critical acclaim of this book.  Granted, I am just some person.  Maybe there is big brain appeal here that I just do not get.  As a personal opinion, though, I wish the beautiful cover hadn’t been wasted on this!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Sexual content

nabila99's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 my first thought as i read this was: i don’t understand why the average rating for this book is so low!

the water cure is a gorgeously written and atmospheric exploration of abuse, trauma, family dynamics, loneliness, and survival as women. we follow the lives of three sisters, mainly the elder two, in their isolated, cult-like family that has convinced them that men are mortal threats to them, and that their abusive “therapies” are the only way to remain strong and unaffected. except one day, when a trio of men arrive on their island, testing their resolve. 

this is not an easy book to read - the abuse detailed in it is graphic, and the pain, loneliness and stockholm syndrome of the sisters is very heavy. i’m not a big fan of the revelations or the ending, and i wouldn’t call this a “feminist dystopia”, but i was enthralled by this slow-paced, eerie, heartbreaking story.
 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, and Drug use

Minor: Suicide

bookishpip's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was a short but incredibly intense book. It’s been on my TBR for years and I was glad to finally get to read it.

It’s about three girls and their mother who live on an island. The world is dystopian; the seawater surrounding them is poisoned, and in this world the effect of men on women is one of physical decomposition. Sick women visit the island to receive treatment for the effects men have had on them. The only exception to the rule is the girls’ father, who they refer to as King, because he lives away from the mainland and on his supply visits protects himself from the poisoned air that causes men to thrive and hurt women. Until one day he goes missing and is presumed dead, after which the girls and their mother must learn to survive on their own… 

At many points in reading, especially as the plot thickened later on, I couldn’t help but see parallels with Lord of the Flies (I loved LOTF so for me, this wasn’t a bad comparison to draw). It felt like an interesting feminist take on remote survival novels. I very much enjoyed it and was hooked. A word of warning though - parts of this book are incredibly intense and potentially triggering. Be aware of trigger warnings! 

Highly recommended.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Self harm, Gaslighting, and Suicide

annablume's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The second part was a bit of a slog for me but I loved the ending. A lot of untied ends and completely unreliable narrators.
The prose is phenomenal, dreamy, very of its setting, but the narrating characters have uniquely deleveloped voices.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Child abuse, Blood, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, and Torture

moa's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Child abuse

caitlin1066's review

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

Okay, wow! So beautifully written and intense. It felt very confusing to begin with, but everything seemed to fall into place by the end. Definitely not a light-hearted read! There were extremely intense themes which were explained in such a way that I 100% see why they were added to the story. A tale of three sisters’ bond that is built on violence and abuse. Very metaphorical and poetic, what with the father figure being called King and the development of the male characters in the book. Some very harrowing scenes, some of the worst being Lia’s self harm and the ocean/baby scene. Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend if you like books that are mysterious and dark. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts