Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Institute by Stephen King

31 reviews

thebookkeepers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

5.0

This was my first Stephen King book and WOW. I can see why he is the revered author that he is. This book was a psychological thriller with sci-fi themes. I was immersed in the story and could not put it down. I was a little confused with the opening Part since it didn't align with the blurb, but trusted the process and it all made sense. I was on pins and needles reading this and it consumed my attention. I loved the Netflix show The OA and this reminded me of parts of that show. I loved all the characters and thought the execution of the story as well as the reveals of the mysterious parts were done with expert attention. I will be reading more Stephen King, especially next time I crave a page-turner. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Medical trauma, Child death, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Suicide, Child abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Violence, Cursing, and Gun violence

Minor: Excrement and Vomit

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

very good book!! dark but well-written and interesting worldbuilding

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Dementia, Gaslighting, Gore, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, War, Gun violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Self harm, and Torture

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Vomit, Addiction, Racism, Excrement, and Stalking

Minor: Racial slurs

beaniebabybecca's review against another edition

dark sad 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Child abuse, Murder, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Kidnapping, Child death, Medical trauma, and Death

societarian's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Torture, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent and Child death

beefygordito's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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? No

3.5

As an avid reader of King's classic novels, I decided to jump forward in his collection to The Institute. It's got a lot of the classic tropes of a King novel; powerful children, psychic powers, older male supporting a younger child. It's a lot like Firestarter in that way. However the book didn't leave me curious as to what was going to happen next. Most of it was highly predictable, and felt a bit like the plot of a book you'd read in middle school, but written by a master of the craft. He's a wordsmith like no other, but overall just felt a bit underwhelmed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Child abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Death of parent and Child death

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Excrement, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, War, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug use, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Medical content, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

eyyline's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Torture, Death, Cursing, Child death, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Medical trauma and Suicide

booksandsnacks31's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This is my first (and probably last since I am not a horror girly) King novel. My sister bugged me for MONTHS to read this and I’m so glad I finally did. It had the perfect creepy, mysterious vibes and while it had horrific moments it didn’t feel horror or too scary to me. The characters were great, the story had me excited to keep reading, it’s so well written, and had through provoking themes that I’ll be thinking about for a while. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, and Sexual assault

sebnia_05's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Self harm, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Dementia, Medical content, Grief, Gun violence, Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Chronic illness, Cancer, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Stalking, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Vomit

snowy4774's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Suicide, Child abuse, Murder, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Gore, Kidnapping, and Cursing