Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

32 reviews

beckyremillard's review against another edition

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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The main character in this book is a victim of human trafficking which resulted in living as the “wife” of pig farmer, Lenn. 

It’s an emotional story because we can tell that the main character is just doing her best to survive while facing so many dark obstacles. 

I was not expecting that twist toward the end. If I reread it I’m sure it would be more obvious but this book was hard enough to get through the first time - not due to poor writing or anything like that, just because of what she has to deal with every day.

Definitely check the content warnings on this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Deportation

Minor: Suicide

hollyfitton1's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, Gore, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Rape, Sexual violence, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child death and Child abuse

nialiversuch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Blood, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Pregnancy, Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Ableism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Addiction, Body horror, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Deportation, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Vomit, and Death of parent

wonderfulxwonderful's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Rape, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

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

melissarosereads's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping

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

andreastopit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

I have never been so invested in a character. I wanted throw the book across the room and but also to finish it as quickly as  possible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Kidnapping, Torture, Violence, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Murder, and Slavery

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