Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

33 reviews

hollispaige's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

Although i did enjoy this book and stayed up way past my bedtime to find out how it ends, i almost DNF less than half way through. I think it is because the more interesting stuff (in my opinion) was few and far between, and as much as you get to know the main character…..shes the only one who is telling this story. Overall it kept me coming back for more, but I wouldn’t say it was one of my favorites. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Addiction, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Child abuse

chellery's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Pregnancy, Torture, Trafficking, Slavery, Addiction, Rape, Kidnapping, and Sexual assault

Minor: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Physical abuse

a_b_hall's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape

nika_nix's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

5.0

Brilliant. I devoured this book so quickly - from page one I was hooked and there was not a single boring or pointless moment in the plot. I felt so much for our main character, I was angry and sad and felt claustrophobic and terrified. Will Dean is quickly becoming my favorite author and I cannot believe I haven't heard anyone talk about this book, it deserves all the praise!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Rape, Slavery, Drug use, Deportation, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury

tash1531718's review against another edition

challenging dark sad fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

Hard to rate such a harrowing story - I read it in one sitting and was hooked by the pace, particularly at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Slavery, Violence, Torture, Racism, Domestic abuse, Death, Medical trauma, Grief, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Murder, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Deportation, Confinement, Blood, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia

phee119's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It’s a little slow to start but once it kicks off you get absolutely sucked in! There’s a twist you would never have expected either 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Addiction

Mentions of human trafficking

shadymist's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Bullying, Addiction, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent

court_greenwell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Pregnancy, Addiction, Slavery, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Deportation, and Confinement

chtfc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Torture, and Violence

angelofthetardis's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Objectively speaking, this is a well written dark, tense thriller that leaves the reader feeling just as suffocated and trapped as the main character. The narrative and setting reflect each other well; nothing wasted, tightly controlled, gets the job done, and yet highly effective. I can see why people who enjoy this genre would rave about this book.

However, I'm not one of those people. This is a genre that I don't generally pick up, not because I'm triggered by anything within, but more just because I use reading as an escape to fantasy land, which this definitely isn't. My star rating reflects my subjective feelings; while it was a good read and I could digest it quickly, I couldn't derive any enjoyment or pleasure from it.

I didn't think there was much depth to the book; while the main character's backstory is clear, the motivations of her "husband" remain shrouded in mystery. In no way would any tragic backstory redeem him and he is clearly a bad person, but the gap left me with more questions than answers; is he perpetuating the cycle? Is he emulating his father, or did he have a weird obsession with his mother? Was he 'normal' with his first wife? If so, what made him turn? There are tantalising glimpses, but not enough to garner the feeling of full on, villain levels of hatred and disgust in the reader, which is definitely what you should be feeling for this man!!

Likewise, there are some plot points and actions that occur with little to no explanation, that make very little sense to me. They're clearly necessary for the story to move forward, but again it feels like there are big gaps left while the story moves on. I'm not saying everything needs explanation down to the tiniest detail, but in this case it seems to me that just too many details are missing.

I found the climax to be both exactly what you would be hoping for, and yet very underwhelming. Again, the lack of detail just leaves it wanting. In my head, the last moment of the main story should have been a last look back over the farmland, illuminated by the glow of embers and with the sound of crackling wood... this would still leave it up to the reader's imagination so there's nothing graphic, but would have given it the finality the story deserved. As it is, it's all inferred. And then the epilogue just feels too 'easy' and, oddly, seems to me to be the least realistic part of the book...

This book was recommended to me by my Mum. I am really glad she found a book she could devour quickly, and I'm so grateful I get to share the experience with her, even if it's not to the same degree.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Slavery, and Trafficking