Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

21 reviews

hermionerose97's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.75

At once unbearable and unputdownable, I found this book very difficult to read and yet flew through it in two sittings. I couldn’t bear to read on, nor could I bear to look away. It is compelling and page-turning and I was rooting for the protagonist throughout. It’s written in such a way that kept me reading, but the subject matter means I won’t ever pick it up again… 
Loses stars for me as I’m struggling to decide whether it was a necessary way to shed light on a very real-world issue or whether it’s just trauma porn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

bees_knees735's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This was a little slow at times, while the ending became a bit more rushed but this was a really interesting concept for a thriller. The premise was well executed and gave a really refreshing protagonist. I haven’t seen many thrillers that show the aftermath of trafficking rather than the threat of it, and found it to be a really fascinating take on the classic kidnapping thriller. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Rape, and Racism

Moderate: Violence, Deportation, Slavery, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Murder

bosy369's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Violence

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

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

hilarylouise's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Confinement, Pregnancy, Trafficking, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

elysianbud's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Torture, Slavery, Trafficking, Confinement, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

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