Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

10 reviews

nika_nix's review against another edition

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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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court_greenwell's review against another edition

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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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katyannreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense

5.0

Type of book that is so heartbreaking and will stay with you for a long time. Love the way the book was written, and allows you to feel every emotion that the main character is feeling. Easy 5 stars. 

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elysianbud's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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? No

3.5

Incredibly sad and upsetting novel. Thankfully ends on a high note, but the main character goes through much trauma.

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nialiversuch's review against another edition

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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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soobooksalot's review against another edition

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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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amyspag's review against another edition

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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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littlebookcastle_sam's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

3.75


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slevlin86's review against another edition

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dark sad fast-paced

5.0


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travelseatsreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

Brutal, raw, dark and absolutely engrossing.

When I started this book I honestly rolled my eyes and thought, not this again. I've read and listened to a lot of books with very similar themes in recent months and was fearful of being bored by essentially the same story. Well, after the first few pages not alone did I forget about being bored, I also forgot to breathe.

From the first few words, I was immediately consumed by Jane's fear, desperation and hunger. The tension within this book is immediate, it throws you straight into the action and somehow that tension continues to build right until those final scenes. 

Dean portrays the warped relationship between Jane and Lenn (her captor) so delicately and so forcefully all at once. He shows just how much control Lenn has and exerts over her while simultaneously conveying an element of care given to her. 

As the story develops Jane is faced with many almost impossible decisions. Dean gracefully negotiates these moral dilemmas and really makes you question, what would you do in these scenarios? It's not always as simple as right or wrong.

Dean's style is suitably claustrophobic, chilling and unrelenting. He has created a world so vivid and menacing. Once you read those first few lines he instantaneously picks you up, plunges you head first into that world and does not let you come up for air until the very last page. 

Already one of my top reads for 2021.
 

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