Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

37 reviews

morningtide's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

I gave this book 5 stars the first time I read it and I can see why. The story feels compelling, even if it feels a bit predictable at times. Obviously we know things as the reader that the characters in the story don't know, and it feels appropriately satisfactory when they find out as well. Even though I remembered the gist of the story from the first time I read it, I still felt surprised at certain points so I have to give it props for that. This time around I think I am mainly impressed and a little uncomfortable by how much I feel bad for the villain once we learn his back story.

Will Graham is right, in the end. It is not the places that are haunted, but the people.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Ableism

Moderate: Sexual violence

midniqhtr42's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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

The first half of the book is quite slow-paced, as it takes its sweet time building tension, but the payoff in the latter half had me completely hooked. I was already familiar with Silence of the Lambs and NBC Hannibal, but neither property sufficiently preserved the self-aware humor of TH’s writing. Considering that this book was written in the late 70s/early 80s, I think it’s aged surprisingly well (outdated terminology notwithstanding), especially in terms of its portrayal of women and disabled people. 

CW: heavier content about child abuse and assault w/ deadly weapons than cannibalism in this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Gun violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Murder

Minor: Cannibalism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

booksgirl456's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

This book is an amazing story, not only does it have diverse characters and plot, it has an ending that will haunt you for a long time. Will Graham’s internal battles with his trauma and pure empathy are well thought out and written, as well as

Francis Dolahyde’s own struggles with his battles with the “dragon” and he is a tragic character who always seems to want to stop but just can’t manage it

the introduction to Hannibal Lecter is both thought provoking and spine chilling. All in all an amazing read and a must read if you are a fan of phycological horror and mystery novels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence

Amazing

mclachlan301003's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, and Violence

foreverinastory's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This was boring. I expected Dr Lecter to be more involved in this than he was. I've heard he is more in the later books, but I don't really have any interest in reading more of these? I normally like murder mysteries so I don't exactly know why this one bored me so much. Maybe it was Will and how cishetero he is. Plus this book is old so the misogyny and gender roles prevail. Blegh. 

Would recommend to murder mystery fans who don't have a problem with cannibalism and rape-murder. Idk this was just not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Confinement

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, and Sexism

eatsnacks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence

tenten's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death