Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl

16 reviews

stormywolf's review

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

2.0

Another YA pick for Maven's Vampire Book Club, and a shorter one at that. Mainly this was due to scheduling issues that cropped up in January, pushing back the official discussion of that month's book a couple weeks, so she figured a shorter option would be easier to slot in and get things back on track. Besides the length, and the GoodReads blurb citing "dark humor and queer love," I really didn't know anything going in. Would this vampire story edge more cutsie, or have some real bite?

Read my full review at The Wolf's Den 

Overall, I don't know how to recommend this one. On the one hand, I think it has fun characters, it does some interesting things with vampire mythology, and does a good job examining regret and how it influences us. But on the other hand, I had issues with its shallow characterizations, its unsatisfying ending, and its handling of toxic relationships. I think there are some good messages and important things addressed, but I also think it missed the mark with a lot of things. I suppose if you're interested in a bittersweet, queer, quirky, YA vampire romance story and not wanting anything too complex or detailed, this might be what you're looking for. As for myself, I'll be hoping for some lighter fare with a lower body count. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-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

3.0

A story about a group of girls who team up to take revenge on the vampire that turned them? Such a great premise for a story. At times, I wish the world and the relationship would have been a bit more fleshed out. The pacing also felt a bit off at times, which kind of pulled me out of the story.

But the references to traditional vampire stories throughout will really make it fun for vampire fans. Holly is a great narrator, and her snide comments about vampires and people's views of vampires just make the story more fun to read.

All in all, if you're looking for a quick, entertaining vampire story, this one would fit the bill!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, and Dementia

mollyanne624's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Dementia

Minor: Vomit

toralea32's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Dementia, and Mass/school shootings

layn_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

toofondofbooks_'s review

dark funny lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

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

I liked the first half of this book enough that I was going to give it 5 stars, but the second half kind of chipped points away for me. As always, I wanna start with the good aspects. The first of these being that this was campy and fun most of the time. I highlighted a ton of parts that made me laugh, there was so much of it that was darkly funny. Another thing I really liked were the two vampire "sidekicks" (but let's face it, they were kind of running shit) Ida and Rose. I thought they were far more interesting than our main character, whose name I kept forgetting 💀

The things that bugged me are as follows: the romance was weak. I felt like it was a little forced and I have an idea for a different route it could've taken that would make it better. I also think the book would've been better from Rose or Ida's point of view, or switching points of view, but I understand why it wasn't. There was also sexual content that made me uncomfortable. It didn't feel like it belonged in what I'm pretty sure is a YA novel, but maybe that's just me. Also, I found the way they disposed of their kills to be a little too convenient and unbelievable, even for a vampire story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying