Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

15 reviews

uncorkedthriller's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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

4.0

This book has been on my list for awhile as I listen to true crime podcasts. When my #thrilledobsessedbuddyread picked it for this for this month’s book, I knew it was the perfect time to read it. 

Let me say it sucked me in from the beginning. It is a relatively short book at 242 pages, so I sped through it. It was also recommended to me to listen to the audio, which didn’t disappoint. The audio made it for me. They both took on their prospective parts and really enhanced the book, in my opinion. 

I’m usually pretty good at picking out the “twists” before they come, but this one still threw me. I was close, just not on point. So I was surprised to say the least. I love when authors can throw me off and surprise me! 

I did remove a star for two reasons, one being that it just abruptly ends. I’m not sure if this is setting it up for a second book, but I didn’t expect it to just end. The other reason, is strictly my opinion. The reason I was thrown was based on timelines. To not spoil anything for anyone, I won’t go into details, but when you read it you may understand. 

All in all, I enjoyed this book. It had the thriller aspect i enjoy and it had an added mix with Wren’s approach as the ME. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 ⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Physical abuse, Torture, Murder, Confinement, Death, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Cursing

Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent

so_casually_cruel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Stalking, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Torture, and Violence

alittlebitofjessica's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

As a huge fan of the Morbid podcast, I really wanted to love this book. I did enjoy the twist (no spoilers here!) but felt the book was a little rushed and I didn’t feel we had a chance to get attached to the main character. Saying that, I probably will read the next one, so 3/5 seems fair!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Kidnapping, Drug use, and Torture

smkelly1997's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Butcher and the Wren was a great debut novel. I was caught off guard by plot twists and left wanting more. I’m excited to see where this story continues. I could not give it a full 5 stars for 3 main reasons. First, an injury that is integral to the book is described incorrectly which really bothered me. Second, the consistent mention of serial killers felt like a selling point for the podcast. Third, I wish we would have gotten to know more about Wren and her personality. I felt like I knew her wry but not here. 

Overall, as I already said a great book. While it could use a bit of work I think for a debut novel it was great. It was one of the first horror/thriller books I have read and this made it all the more interesting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Torture, Kidnapping, and Stalking

holliejemima's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Body horror, Alcohol, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Drug use, and Death