Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

575 reviews

erikaraz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Child abuse

bxnnny's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

this is quite the sleeper hit. a bit of a slower start, somewhat hard to get into, but once you're in it, you can't stop. everything coming together piece by piece by the end is truly enthralling. every detail matters so pay attention! definitely go into it as blind as you can. heavy content warning with this one though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

Minor: Addiction, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Stalking

pretty heavy content warning.

mental disorders a main theme.

simplyammee's review against another edition

emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Homophobia

gothikry's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Self harm, Murder, and Mental illness

manda2512's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Child death, Murder, Suicide, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

calamity_jane01's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book was a surprise. Just when I thought I had figured it out, it took a turn. The story centres on Ted a loner, the disappearance of a child  many years earlier, a cat and a dark, boarded up house. I won't provide more detail than that, because the story is best read going in with little knowledge. The book is a horror/murder mystery and can be very dark. The writing is incredible; despite the unlikeable characters the writing is able to provide the complexity of the reasoning as to why the characters are the way they are. The style of the book is quite unusual with different narratives, and again the writing shines through with providing authenticity to the different voices and perspectives. Overall, quite a unique novel, and a very good exploration of mental health, trauma and crime and how it impacts people differently. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Murder

Moderate: Abandonment

amessina3399's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

I'm not someone who likes to throw around 5-star ratings for books, but this book was certainly the exception. This book is most certainly my favorite to date. I laughed, I cried, I'm about to go to the store and purchase a copy to have forever.

It took me about 25% of the book before I really got into it, and the only thing that kept me was the other reviews saying how great it was, so I trusted. And I am SO glad I did.

There are tons of twists and turns in this book, and it navigates these shifts with a nail-biting grace. It's horrific, it's bittersweet, and the characters are INCREDIBLY lovable. I usually don't re-read books, but I am excited to go back and read this one again to catch all the juicy little details I missed the first time around. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Child abuse

Moderate: Vomit, Blood, and Murder

xkwright's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Medical trauma, Child death, Alcohol, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

bookishlysophie's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I liked the book in theory but I found that the depiction of DID was not a particularly positive one and was only saved by the final plot twist. I’d somewhat recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse and Kidnapping

pagesofpemberley's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse