Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Daisy Darker: A Novel by Alice Feeney

36 reviews

blackcatkai's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

CW: death (adult and child), child abuse, alcohol and drug use, addiction, suicide, sexual assault, mental illness, chronic illness, blood, violence, ableism

a mystery suspense novel with a supernatural bend. some of my favourite things are here like rich people family drama, murder, and a sweet dog who does NOT come to harm! 🥳 so fret not, friends! if you like the Clue movie with a little halloween spooky vibe and secrets all over, then give this one a shot. I really enjoyed it!

some parts were a smidge repetitive and I'm not entirely sure I'm the biggest fan of the very end, but I had fun, and thats all that really matters, overall.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Blood, and Alcohol

Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

sierra_alexis's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

I found this book very easy to be drawn into and fascinating to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, and Car accident

thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

It was a dark and stormy night… okay, but really—it was a dark and stormy night on an isolated island off the coast of Cornwall, where an estranged family has gathered for Nana Darker’s 80th birthday. Albeit awkward considering their weird family dynamic, a tense celebration of sorts ensues until Nana turns up dead at the stroke of midnight. One by one, the family members disappear accompanied by cryptic, poetic messages, but whodunit?? 

I can’t say too much without giving the whole story away, but this was a fun murder mystery! For sure a more modern take on Agatha Christie mysteries with a little “Knives Out” action. It also reminded me, at times, of “The Prestige” and “Shutter Island”. 

I will say that I guessed the final twists fairly early on, but still felt the satisfying shock when they were unveiled, as some pieces I definitely had not put together. 

The writing style was great, though I did find the book a little too long, and some of the flashbacks stunted the flow of the story a tad. Also, don’t go into this one expecting to like any of the characters—some I rather loathed, which was part of the point of course. 

Overall, a very on-brand read for Halloween season!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

sampetsdogs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Y'all, she did it again. Alice Feeney is the QUEEN of plot twists and Daisy Darker left my jaw on the floor. She kept me guessing the entire time! This book is so disturbing and intriguing and, honestly, mind-blowing. 100% recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

kimveach's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This book took a long time to get to the big reveal.  While I liked the ending, I thought about quitting this book many times, which isn't good.  I much preferred the author's "Rock Paper Scissors."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death

mysterymom40's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

listened to ALC

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Blood, and Alcohol

uncomfortable situation with older teen and younger teen and consent to non-consent