Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon

52 reviews

citybookspgh's review

dark 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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This is a rough book for sensitive readers, and nothing about the main character’s situation is likable, but this book is riveting and impossible to put down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Stalking, Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Confinement

The dog doesn’t die.

haleyvb's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Stalking, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse and Incest

tantasoreajs's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I went into this book knowing little about it. Within a few pages, I realized the premise was similar to the book I had just finished and I almost set this one aside for a bit to avoid reading two books about the same thing back-to-back. I'm so glad I didn't and that I chose to read this because it was amazing! It's been a long time since a book made me feel so tense and anticipatory that I had to hold my hand over the page to keep from trying to "read ahead." I appreciate how the author conveys horror and trauma without crossing over into the exploitative or needlessly detailed. The author is skilled at making what is left unsaid feel just as unsettling as what is said. This was a fantastic read that was hard to put down.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

Minor: Stalking, Death of parent, and Cancer

mysterymom40's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Confinement, Murder, Blood, Rape, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Cancer, Excrement, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Stalking, and Pregnancy

one woman feels like she was drugged; it is implied that the father might be sexually abusing his daughter

sarahholliday's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The premise of this tense thriller is absolutely fascinating. I love the idea of getting to see the various facets of such a cruel, evil man through the eyes of the women surrounding him. It shows, with both subtlety and unflinching honesty, the ways in which such a person makes everyone around them a victim—even if they don't intentionally do them harm.

"The woman in the shed" is a brilliantly drawn character. Her development is so well done, and I appreciate the attention the author played to the impact of things like diet, exposure to the outside world, and other practical elements on a victim's psyche and mental acuity. 

There's no glamorizing the serial killer here. Instead, Michallon empathizes the inherently frail nature of a killer's control, the feebleness of their rationale, and the fragility of their carefully constructed world.

I think the pacing lagged in a few places, and I didn't always know quite what to do with Emily as a character, but overall I thought this book was very well done and I had a hard time putting it down. Excited to see what else the author does in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Murder, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Stalking

holdenwunders_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

Wow. This was one of the most triggering books I've ever read in my entire life. It was incredibly well written, horrifying, vivid, and while it has violent aspects it wasn't overtly so. There was something about this that was so visceral and felt like it could only be told by a victim of abuse and it left me reeling.  I can handle a lot but this felt like Room but a suspense version and man it gave me nightmares. Fantastic debut but be warned if you've ever been a victim. I don't think I'll ever be able to read another by this authour again for my own mental health but it really was that good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Death, Confinement, Kidnapping, Torture, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Grief, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

kimveach's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious reflective 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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is an interesting perspective of a serial killer.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Cancer, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Stalking

maxthefish's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Grief, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Cancer

syellico's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow! This was a 5-star thriller for me.  
A serial killer's story told from three outside perspectives of women in his life.  The writing in this book is done so well.  I know some people don't like the second person perspective, but I thought it was so well done here and really moved the story along!  I could not stop turning the pages, and I don't want to say too much because the small parts that reveal themselves along the way are part of the reason I liked the book so much!  I hope that this one gets the attention it deserves, this author is definitely one to watch for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Murder, Stalking, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Sexual violence

cait_reads_and_drinks's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Rape

Moderate: Cancer, Murder, and Emotional abuse