Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

259 reviews

tattedtrashreader's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

The books storytelling and execution were very well-done. I appreciated the rotating perspectives and how each character saw a different side of Ansel, including Ansel himself. I found it interesting that there’s an element of redemption for some of the characters and a stark lack for others. It really feels like the darker side of life, where things aren’t fair and not everyone gets their happily ever after. 

This book is not for the faint of heart. It is deeply triggering and is depressing at times. The narration paints a grey setting with very few lighthearted points in the plot. It needs a heavy trigger warning. I need a much lighter read after this one 😅 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Murder, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse

liliana92's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.25

I went into this book expecting this to be the story of Ansel and his murders told through the eyes of the victims, as the book summary promises, but it is not this at all. The murders happen off page. And I think if I knew this was the case, that the book is about the actual lives of women he interacted with at a point or another, maybe I would have rated a 5. I wanted more "murder" (that feels awkward to write). 
I think in terms of the book itself, the only criticism I have is that the jumping from perspectives and in a 20 year timeline got confusing and sometimes left me feeling like I needed more from certain scenarios. Oh that and I hated the fact that Ansel thought he was some genius for getting a prison guard to be apparently "shaken" by his seduction powers. Otherwise, I think it's a great read. Just don't think you're gonna get a play by play of a murder, because you're not. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Murder

savreads28's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Confinement, Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, Violence, Death, Sexual violence, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Mental illness, Rape, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Sexual content and Cancer

arabellaruby's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Ansel yapped too much.

I felt the writing encouraged sympathy for him. His theory was over-discussed without any real substance. It would have been nice to have perspective from Shawna.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcoholism, Animal death, and Grief

Minor: Pedophilia

juliesleseecke's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Blood, Sexual content, Misogyny, Gore, Animal cruelty, Death, Grief, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Vomit, Animal death, Body horror, Murder, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment

acfreads's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Animal death

bps's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Violence, Abandonment, and Child abuse

chiara_dose's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Pregnancy

gabigabs87's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse