Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco

7 reviews

gnarly_cinnamonroll's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

I definitely enjoyed this bit- it was refreshing to get to read a book based in Filipino lore/mythology. It didn’t bother me that the Tagalog want always directly translated as you can figure out what Alon is saying contextually. I enjoyed the LGBT aspect of the book however I felt that

the relationship between Alon and Chase didn’t make much sense to me beyond surface level interactions. I wish that there had been more time with the two characters developing a more extensive/cleaned out environment.

 

I enjoyed how the side characters were given nicknames that feels real as to how we may refer to b people by monikers in our internal dialogue. The descriptions of the environment were riveting and kept me hooked. I wished I had felt more connected to Alon who feels more like a neutral narrator telling a story than the protagonist of the novel.

However, that may be intentional since we learn who  Tatay is and Alon’s connection to them.

 

Overall I enjoyed the plot twists, descriptions, and mythology, but found myself c wanting deeper characters development and relationships.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Stalking, Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gun violence, and Drug use

asecretplant's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

4.0

Love the concept, the atmosphere, and the characters. Such an amazing spooky read full of compassion, retribution, and humans meeting that which is larger than we will ever be.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Colonisation, Gaslighting, and Alcoholism

shinyharley's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Rin Chupeco has become one of my favorite authors. They create stunning worlds that blend cultures beliefs, superstitions and environments in beautiful ways. This book gripped me from the first page and at the end left me wishing for more (in the best way.) I fell in love with the way the beauty of nature was combined to both inhance and contrast with all the spookiness thats happening which help create the air of this mysterious island lost to time and the myths around it. I also love the commentary on how people change and impact the places they visit and how much harm disrespect can lead too.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Murder, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Animal death

gracklewarp's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, and Death of parent

Minor: Racism, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Kidnapping, Car accident, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Infidelity

noahsingh's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Gun violence

Moderate: Vomit and Colonisation

Minor: Death of parent, Rape, Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Body horror

daniellestarredpages's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. The fact that most off this book was entered around privileged white Americans encroaching on a space that wasn't theirs to enter, ignoring all the warnings and suffering the (horrifying, supernatural) consequences was something I never thought would become a plot point I would thoroughly enjoy but I did. 

This book also makes a budding queer relationship between a the son of one of the producers of the show and Alon (they/them) the local boy, with  a strange connection to the island, who tries repeated to warn the Hollywood people to get off the island.

The horror element of the story was amazing written, vividly detailed and sufficiently creepy without being  too much for the people who have a lower tolerance.

Also the twist! It was hinted at without being too obvious. I loved it.

If you are looking for more reviews from me, check out my YouTube channel here : https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCGRr_IBoWd5ue-0Q9qffYdw/featured

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Car accident, Racial slurs, and Colonisation

modernmatilda's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The Sacrifice is a solid 4/5 star book that perfectly fits into my very-specific-sub-genre of "creepy flowers and trees on the cover". The horror of this book is incredible and I had to read it with my back against the wall so I knew nothing would sneak up on me. The ending was a WILD ride and I loved the ride. Having a nonbinary Filipino character was lovely. My two hold-ups for not giving this book five stars are:
1. The horror was fantastic, but there was too much repetition, too much of the same events happening over and over. This dulled the scare-factor for me as I became acclimated to experiencing the same moments over and over. I think there could have been a little more variety of events. 
2. The romance felt rushed and forced into the book. The same emotional reaction could have been achieved with a platonic friendship.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Gore, Body horror, Addiction, Animal death, Grief, Colonisation, Racism, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, Violence, Racial slurs, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood

Minor: Physical abuse and Domestic abuse