Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

46 reviews

chris_reads's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Child abuse, Gore, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Body horror, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Vomit

Minor: Sexual violence, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

thebookraiders's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Animal death and Confinement

emmaward55's review

dark sad tense

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

4.75

This book is perfect for anyone who loves the Charmed TV series and thought it could be scarier.

When I was on chapter four, my working theory was that the missing girls were being turned into horses by Val and her mum: But oh, it's so much darker than that. I love a good horror film, yet I found myself more creeped out in reading this book than I expected to be. Legrand's writing is evocative, tense, and atmospheric, without getting too bogged down in description. There's plenty of action and moments of good character growth throughout.

I read this book in two days, mostly in three long chunks, as I couldn't drag myself away to focus on anything else! I loved the complex relationships of our three protagonists and their characterisations have to be a highlight for me. Can't lie though, I’m sad that we didn’t get a reunion scene at the end between Marion and her mum. Considering that this is a book about female relationships, it feels weird to not include one of the protagonists interacting with the last present female parent of the trio. 

That being said, the above was my only real complaint. I'd certainly read this book again and I recommend it for anyone with a strong stomach!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Blood, Self harm, Child death, Violence, Torture, Animal death, Gore, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Vomit, Medical content, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage

Child death and kidnapping:

All are around 17

Self harm:

The only instance I remember is a character burning something off their skin, but it's done to save themselves and others

Drug abuse and suicidal thoughts:

A secondary character isn't trusted with their prescription medication, as a loved one suspects they might intentionally overdose. Nothing actually happens and it's just a brief mention.

oliverreeds's review

adventurous dark tense medium-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

4.0

pretty good. the character relationships were stilted at the beginning. i didnt understand their motivations but it made sense at the end. i just wish there had been more friendship initially. would have provided a better foundation

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Police brutality, Self harm, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Acephobia/Arophobia, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

vaguely_pink's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Violence, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Sexual content, Cursing, Biphobia, Bullying, Blood, and Body horror

Minor: Gun violence, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

bookedbymadeline's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

This book had me from the very first line and I kept staying up late to keep reading until I could no longer keep my eyes open! Which is rare but also bad, because I was freaked out when the lights went out .

I loved the plot, the characters, and their development. I was completely immersed in the world of Sawkill and rooting for the girls! I also really liked the switching POVs. Sawkill Girls was truly an amazing book, and considering I’m a scaredy cat who typically avoids horror novels-I was blown away! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Murder, Gore, Car accident, and Grief

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual content, and Sexism

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

idogrocker's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Gore

elliesberrie's review

dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Blood, Grief, Child death, and Bullying

Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Car accident and Alcohol

mooandshoe's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

I have really conflicting feelings about this book, I won’t lie. Overall, the themes and symbolism were incredible and the plot kept me wanting to know what happened next. However, the writing at the beginning was a little hard to get into. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want this to be hidden by a spoiler, but my biggest issue with the book was the sexual content with teenage characters. If the characters were adults, I wouldn’t care or even necessarily call it graphic but it was way more than should be written about characters who are underage. So, ethically, I feel a little conflicted about how I want to rate this book. 
However, this book is a beautiful examination of girlhood, patriarchy, good and evil, and how easily those things intertwine. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Blood, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Acephobia/Arophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

reya94's review

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Death and Gore