Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

7 reviews

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Emotional abuse, and Gore

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Minor: Abandonment, Classism, Racism, Vomit, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol

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

danaslitlist's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

This is Stranger Things meets pure horror, a science fiction paranormal mystery. I didn’t know I needed or wanted that until now.

Sawkill Girls is best described as an emotional rollercoaster. From terrifying to melancholy to comedic the range of feelings I experienced reading this was far and wide. All these emotions tangled up wonderfully and as a result had my attention wrapped up in the story at every turn. 

The commentary on how men view girls as weapons to weird and tools to possess are so beautifully illustrated. I am also a sucker for any book where female characters group together to defend and support one soother, the solidarity immediate and unquestioned. Having three very different female characters interacting, even when there was distrust, in that way was refreshing. 



This book also has asexual and sapphic representation that was handled really well; it was the cherry  on top.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Animal death

Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, and Body horror

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

larabezzina's review

dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Violence, Body horror, Death of parent, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Alcohol and Vomit

starlessnights's review

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Car accident, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism

Minor: Vomit