Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Das Spiel by Stephen King

72 reviews

matxoni's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

4.0

potser ben mirat seria més aviat un 3,5 si he de valorar l'història en net però m'ha sorprès tant que no puc posar-li menys que això. buscava un llibre que em fes passar por i n'he passat, però el que més m'ha impressionat és el relat que fa d'aquesta por; la forma en què t'acompanya l'angoixa, la tensió i la desesperació pero també l'alleujament i la tranquil·litat final. tot això comptant que l'argument durant bona part de la novel·la es basa en el fet que la protagonista es troba lligada a un llit. aquest senyor sap el que fa.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Body horror, Child abuse, Rape, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cannibalism, and Murder

theimposter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is a beautiful and traumatizing expression of trauma (sexual trauma specifically) and of the mind’s internal family system which Stephen King writes so accurately and in such a personifying way. It was also the most triggering book I’ve ever read and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who is triggered by sexual abuse/rape or anyone who doesn’t want to read gore and body horror. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Death, Incest, Child abuse, Confinement, Torture, Body shaming, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

kreglow's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Blood, Domestic abuse, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Sexism, Confinement, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, and Violence

violetturtledove's review against another edition

challenging dark tense 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? Yes

4.5

If I saw a premise like this from any other author I'd probably pass. It sounds tediously grim, but as usual King manages to bring his own fascinating touch to it. It's still a very uncomfortable read, but in a gripping, tense way, and the ending is a killer. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

ansatejones's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

She should have adopted the damn dog at the end.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Mental illness, Incest, Domestic abuse, Death, Confinement, Cannibalism, Body horror, Blood, Animal death, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Self harm, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

bookishchaos's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Great idea but not great execution. Considering this is a fairly short story, nothing really happened other then flashbacks and subplots. The beginning was very rushed then the middle was EXTREMELY slow. Instead of random flashbacks, we should've learned more about Jessie's past in the beginning and have us readers slowly learn how truly evil her husband was. Stephen King has some way better books to be read, I wouldn't recommend this one.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Torture

squigleyline's review against another edition

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse

Moderate: Death and Gore

czoltak'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? Yes

1.0

I definitely would’ve DNF’ed if I wasn’t it reading for a readathon. I can see why people like this, but it is absolutely not for me and the exact opposite of what I’m looking for.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Toxic relationship, Incest, Infertility, Blood, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Adult/minor relationship

ruthypoo2's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Death, Incest, Child abuse, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Alcohol and Cannibalism

nenaveenstra's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

I was impressed by how deeply and respectfully this book discussed sexual assault - this was way more than just a thriller surrounding a BDSM game gone wrong, it was a psychological event. I was deeply entertained and shook to the core with everything that happened. I'm not 100% sure how accurate the depictions of schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder as well as sexual assault were, but they felt respectful and I appreciate that.

I do think this book could've benefited from killing some darlings, if you know what I mean. Especially the last thirty-ish pages - which read as a sort of epilogue - could've been scrapped in my opinion, leaving the ending a bit more open. It was all tied up too neatly.

Anyway this was a fun time, and I'm glad to have read it. Nothing tops The Shining, though ;)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, and Child abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Body shaming

Minor: Ableism, Antisemitism, Drug use, Animal death, Fatphobia, Suicide, Eating disorder, and Misogyny

The book is based around an idea of BDSM that isn't entirely accurate and can be very harmful. This is not what BDSM looks like, everyone!! Because BDSM would imply mutual consent!!! Also there are two subtle references to Nazi Germany in this book which were kind of odd - they were supposed to be funny I think, but I thought they were a little bit tasteless.