Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Last Thing to Burn: A Novel by Will Dean

46 reviews

amareenicole11's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A thrilling novel that tackles the real truths behind human trafficking. Definitely a different approach and very unique. Heartbreakingly real and unimaginable. Tells the tale of a promised life sold into slavery. 

The book started off slow and very repetitive. It didn't start to pick up until the last 50 pages or so, but once it did, it was hard to put down. 

Although this book is a fiction, it's story is very much real and happens more often than we realize. I really appreciated how the ending of this book gave resources and numbers to contact to report human trafficking and information to learn more about it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Rape, and Slavery

efiwritesbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

See my full Youtube review here: https://youtu.be/n5L9lAC1WdY

 The Last thing to Burn is the heartbreaking tale of a woman's struggle to retain her personhood in the face of modern slavery. When her daughter is born, her resolve changes to desperation.

It's a phenomenal story, well-told, with interesting characters and easily-accessible language.

Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Confinement, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Misogyny

tanyarosereads_88's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

While this wasn't the worst thing I've read it wasn't the best. I felt I needed a lot more from this. And a lot more character and plot development. I did feel totally for "Jane" as I can't begin to imagine what her life was life however I felt she could have had a lot more story and a bit more of the plot. I felt the story was literally just a story and no big climaxes or twists. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Kidnapping

soobooksalot's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

This book is described as "Misery meets Room" and holy hell that couldn't be more accurate.
 Despite that, The Last Thing To Burn is unlike anything I've read.
 This is my first foray into Will Dean's writing and I'm most impressed.
 From the description we can discern there's a captivity situation. Beside that I went in quite blind, so the background and resolution was yet to be experienced. 
 Jane is under the rule of "husband" Lenn in a small, remote farm cottage. He records her every move and watches the tapes back daily. He makes Jane wear his dead mother's clothes and burns her personal items to keep her in line.
 Her name is not Jane.
 I won't say any more, other than this is a tense, heartbreaking and suspenseful read that deserves attention. 
 Recommended!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault

amyspag's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

A short but tough read 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and Violence

slascano's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence

ak2190's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Trafficking

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape

littlebookcastle_sam's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence

thislibrarylife's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.5

Easily the most disturbing book I've read this year, but also un-put-down-able. The story moves quickly and is compelling. Recommend for folx who enjoy suspense related to escape. 
TW for all the things: human trafficking, rape, drug abuse, kidnapping, trauma related to childbirth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Rape, and Trafficking

loandbeholdx's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book was outstanding, and I don't tend to use that word lightly. I really didn't want to put this book down, and the moment I finished it I wanted to read it all over again. "Jane" was such a loveable character, even though she had been through hell and back, even though she was becoming weaker, even though she was being abused every day, I still felt a huge connection to her and I still wanted her to get out of the awful situation she was in, and I could see from the start how strong she was. 
 The story took some unexpected turns that I really didn't see coming, and I literally gasped and verbally exclaimed every time something happened. This book really captivated me, and I'd love to read more by this author soon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse