Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

12 reviews

tome's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I don't often read things in one sitting anymore, but this book transfixed me unlike any other. The ambiguity, the viscerality, the perspective, all of it left me utterly engrossed. I'm gonna have to sit with this one for a bit. Also, as a note, some of the trigger warnings added are, to some extent, dependent on what conclusion you make of the ambiguity. I've added them just in case.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Gun violence, Blood, Violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child death, Hate crime, and Vomit

Moderate: Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

jaedia's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

 I was utterly transfixed by this book. I'd put it off for so long because "house invasion thriller" isn't my favourite subgenre but Cabin has a twist to it that makes the story so fascinating, the characters are incredible, the way it's written is fantastic... and the way he plays with ambiguity, holy hell. Chef's kiss. I *still* don't know what happened and I'm GLAD about it!! There were a few lines I highlighted just because they had me going, "Wow... what a line." Sheesh. Well now I need to obtain more Tremblay books, I guess. I've certainly got Horror Movie, his 2024 release, on preorder already. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Child death, and Gore

Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Confinement, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Excrement, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Medical content

books_hay's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? No

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Hate crime, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Violence

jessy4550's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

I liked the book, but I do wish the ending was a little longer.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Child death, Self harm, Death, Gaslighting, and Gore

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, Physical abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

kat_rowlen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I have no idea what happened or why. The ending is ambiguous which I feel hurts the book, and leaves the reader wishing for a more concise ending. The chapters are entirely too long too which makes the book drag on, and the writing is fairly repetitive. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Suicide, Gore, Homophobia, Murder, and Child death

_morgreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

1.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Gaslighting, Medical content, Medical trauma, Cursing, Gun violence, Body horror, Child death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Violence, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Torture, and Vomit

kelsywild's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Death, Murder, Hate crime, Gun violence, Suicide, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Gaslighting, Cursing, Grief, and Child death

nuh_thaan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Instead of dipping my toe in the waters of horror, I feel like I just jumped in! This was so entertaining and captivating to me. Like, imagine yourself in that scenario. You have one choice to make? Will you make it? Can you make it?

I cannot believe the death of Wen! Her innocence was so pure and she didn't even get to have her birthday party! An ambiguous ending makes me love and hate it at the same time. Do Andrew and Eric continue on? Can they? There's so many questions and I know I will be thinking about this book and definitely revisit it!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Body horror, Excrement, Blood, Gore, and Vomit

Minor: Homophobia

directorpurry's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Confinement, Gaslighting, Blood, Child death, Stalking, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Homophobia

sammba's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 I will preface this by saying that this is not a book for everyone. It is intense and gory. There is action, violence, hate, cursing, and brutal deaths. But if you are looking for a horror thriller that goes beyond just focusing on the actions, this book is for you.

Tremblay writes from almost every characters' point of view so you can understand where they are coming from and can feel for them. This in turn continuously makes you question your own thoughts and values. It fills you with stress and gives you existential dread. It will have you asking the question, what would I do if this happened to me?

Many of the low reviews are due to the ending (don't worry, I'm not spoiling it) and I completely understand why they hate it, but they will remember and be thinking about it for a long time. And that's the point. I thought that the ending was perfect and was the only way it could finish in line with the rest of the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Child death, Gore, Confinement, Homophobia, Gaslighting, and Violence