Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks

11 reviews

lazyowl's review

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This was a bit slow to start, as it took a while to peak my interest. The story was compelling enough for me to want to read, but I found no real surprises when the mystery was solved. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide

Minor: Physical abuse and Self harm

knitterscasket's review

dark mysterious 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

2.0

There are no ghosts in this book. Just some jerks.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Murder

shesaidlividly's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness

Minor: Confinement and Death of parent

belovedsnail's review

mysterious fast-paced

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

2.75

I honestly feel a bit bad about giving the book a low rating. There is nothing wrong with it, there's just nothing really that stands out. If you want to read a modern updated gothic mystery with the feel of the kind of book Hitchcock would have filmed, and don't want anything too challenging, then this is your book. It is competently written and moves very quickly. It was overwritten in places, but that goes well to the main point of the book. My main issue is that the "mystery" was obvious to me 1/3 of the way in the book and it somehow lacked the dramatic sizzle which would make up for my lack of surprise. It is definitely going to be someone's ideal airplane book. Just not mine. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Self harm

moiralyle's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Violence

angelaf's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

2.0

Since I count several Gothic novels among my favorites, I had high hopes for The Whispering House. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I enjoyed the novel less and less as I read. I didn't like any of the characters and had no interest in the abusive relationships portrayed in the book. Read if you enjoy: Gothic novels, coastal English settings, creepy houses, dysfunctional relationships

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

breeoxd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I felt like the author showed Cory as being unable to handle seeing the truth about himself. His art was a way to defy his father, as a way of showing his manhood by providing for his family and sustaining the estate- a ticket to a brighter future without depending on what he was taught by his dad (who was focused on more masculine skills like sports and business). His mentally ill mother had taken a frail child and made his talents? the most special thing about him, out of a way to keep her connected with her happier pre-husband past; a connection to art and the world outside the smothering Whispering House. Diana made art a weapon against his father’s ghost. When that mental liferaft was taken away, it ended him. 

This is to say nothing of two women, who looked very similar to his mother, with who he had a dependent, and quasi incestuous “marriage” vibe with, betraying him in his own eyes. There are a lot of confusing sexual undertones in those relationships. I saw it as Mom, the wife, Stella, the whore, Freya, the saint. I saw the way he painted their souless eyes as part of him not being able to see much difference between the three. </spoiler.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Kidnapping

katypicken's review

emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed this but felt it was aiming at a mark it didn't quite reach. The creepy house atmosphere was there, but not scary enough. The heroine was, frankly, a bit wet. I felt I wanted to shake her and tell her to pull herself together and take some action. I kept reading because I wanted to know how it ended, but I felt the whole thing was lacking somehow.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Suicide

tiasreads's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Physical abuse and Self harm

thereadingoutlaw's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death, Emotional abuse, and Self harm