Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

84 reviews

sandysmith's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records.  This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader.  Based in 1634 regarding a shops Voyage. A thriller of sorts, with devilish or supernatural symbols and a murder.  Arent Hayes is a body guard to a great detective Samuel Pepys kept under guard. It was a good read until the disappointing ending and it seemed to loose its way. It was a long book anyway but the ending seemed a completely different pace to the rest of the book. That said I really liked it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Violence, Vomit, Excrement, Rape, and Death

Moderate: Animal death and War

cmbohn's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Murder, and Sexual content

Minor: War, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy

chromiumboron's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

He kinda lost me in the last third, but overall I really enjoyed this book!! I've had a hard time reading lately, but these strong female characters had me tearing through this. Can't wait to read what Turton writes next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, War, Vomit, Violence, Excrement, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Rape

aklovekorn's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Violence, Animal death, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Classism, Grief, Misogyny, and Murder

rochelleisreading's review

informative mysterious medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Misogyny, War, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Blood, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Torture, Slavery, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Classism, Death of parent, Confinement, Death, Murder, and Colonisation

Minor: Physical abuse and Alcohol

librarianeno's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

I loved this book up until the last chapter. I was disappointed by the ending and it really colored my overall feeling about the book. It kept me engaged and wondering about what was happening and who had committed all the crimes that were happening. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

delienn's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

The book was a treat to read, and I thought Stuart Turton even improved since his first book, which I had already loved! Great pace, lovable characters, and an interesting resolution. I enjoyed every moment reading it!
As a side note, I would recomend this book even for people who are sensitive to some trigger warnings, because in my opinion, the story mentions or shows dark things, but is never gruesome and chooses an appropriate level of detail.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Misogyny

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Pregnancy, Rape, Vomit, War, and Torture

deehaichess's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Wow. Excellent murder mystery the whole way. Kept me guessing and got quite tense I  places. The denouement would be standard but is elevated by the emotional impact on the main character and the big twist.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

swampkun's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

An absolutely swashbuckling mystery, full of devilry and dripping with intrigue. I tore this book apart in a matter of days, unable to wait to find out where each revelation led. Moody, tense, and full of deeply compelling characters and motives, Turton has weaved a highly-atmospheric follow up to Evelyn Hardcastle. 

PS, Stu-Turt, if you’re reading this: I’m sorry. I’m one of those readers who can’t stop thinking about how dreamy Arent is. Last night I fell asleep imagining his big arms and wide chest. If you didn’t want us to fall in love, I’m sorry to say that’s the only place where your writing has failed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Ableism

Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, War, and Violence

A female character experiences sexual violence and makes reference to being physically abused. A primary character with dwarfism is referred to with ableist language and describes having experienced ableism. The book is set during a voyage from a Dutch colony in Indonesia. Frequent references are made to a genocide carried out by Dutch military against indigenous people.

darthdevyn's review

adventurous 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

2.5

Way too long and contrived. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Sexism, and Domestic abuse

Not anywhere near as good as the authors previous book.