Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell

9 reviews

harleyqueen's review

dark tense fast-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

5.0

Sophie goes to stay with her uncle but something about those dolls is creepy . They didn't just move ... surely not . And how did Rebecca really die?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

harper11's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-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? No

4.0

Haunting, gripping and semi realistic. Read it in one sitting, I was never bored. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death

unki's review

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A story full of mystery and questions of what next?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Body horror, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Self harm

Minor: Animal death and Confinement

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆'𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

The first 3 chapters filled me with such dread. I felt so uneasy. It kept that hostility throughout and though I felt uncomfortable from the creepy atmosphere, I ended up blitzing through the rest, in the 2nd week of book club. I couldn't get through it quick enough.

As soon as Sophie got to her families house in Skye, the house and inhabitants just felt so wrong... I felt scared reading about the littlest sister and that bloody parrot!

There was some definite descriptions of mental health that aren't very PC today and I think, had it been written a few years later, it would have taken the topic with more tenderness. I don't like how mental illness was used as a plot device... it was like "blame it on the crazies", which isn't fair.

Some of the characters urked me, but despite having a pretty much full unlikeable cast, it didn't diminish my enjoyment.

Overall, I was thoroughly scared and enjoyed the direction the story went. The tense atmosphere and creepy haunted house/possessed doll classic, was modernised very well and entertained me all the way through.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Self harm

Moderate: Bullying, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

I was shocked by Jay's death! I thought it was quite sudden for the first few chapters but it also did feel like it was eluding to his demise very obviously, so I shouldn't really be shocked... more heartbreaking I guess? Despite only just getting to know him... when Sophie admitted to him possibly having deeper feelings for her, it just made me feel sad... melancholy even. I was suspicious of the hints pertaining to a budding relationship with Cameron. I know they're not actually related and they didn't grow up together, but I think it was a strange dynamic to put in - especially in a book aimed at teenagers.

jax00's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

It's very terrifying with lots with twist. I have read it multiple times and it only takes a day to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, and Self harm

caitlin_06's review

adventurous mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Toxic friendship

rb26's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Uses every trick in the book so it’s never truly scary and the characters are very 2D, but it’s very fast paced 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Suicide and Self harm

dekay's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Body horror

frostyreads's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

for a beginner of reading horror, this book is absolutely perfect. it introduces you to the typical aspects - ouija board, creepy dolls - but has a uniqueness to it that puts it at the forefront of your mind. 

‘frozen charlotte’ was so addictive that i finished it in just under 2 days. it throws you into the action, and maintains a fast pace throughout. it’s atmospheric and ridiculously creepy, with plot-twists that keep you on your toes.

the epilogue gave me huge jumanji vibes, and although i’m a little disappointed at the lack of a sequel, i’m equally glad that bell bought sophie’s tale to an exceptional close. i will definitely be keeping this to re-read in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Violence