Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

6 reviews

hurricanetortillah's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death

monicalaurette's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.25

“People disappear when they die.”

This book was somewhat of a wild ride, and I don’t know how much I truly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the mystery part of this book, finding out the truth of Vida Winters and her personal backstory, and was pleasantly surprised with the actual reveal of it. I won’t spoil it so

I honestly thought it was that the twin was alive, not that there was a third child - cousin - who is our Vida Winters

.

At first the narrator, Margaret, to mee seemed a little stuffy and full of herself, but she was a different type of person compared to me so perhaps that’s why. However as time went on I grew to at least be neutral about her, and the fact that we’re both twins was fun, as well as the Angelfield twins that were such a large part of the story. I loved how that was a small surprise for me while I was reading.

“The separation of twins is no ordinary separation.”

One thing I wanted to put in this review and not just in the content warnings/spoilers: there’s like possible incest in this book. It’s not specifically stated between the brother & sister character, but to me it was HEAVILY implied that there was some. Also the brother is a rapist so if that’s not something you want I’d suggest steering clear of this book, or at least the big reveal twist reveal because that’s when it’s mentioned. Besides those things, really it was a fine book.

“Do you know the feeling when you start reading a new book before the membrane of the last one has had time to close behind you?”

This book didn’t really have this feeling for me. I finished this and told myself I would sit on it before writing my review, and then promptly forgot all about it until I opened up my reading notes. So while the above quote I 100% agree with and have had that feeling, this book didn’t do it for me. The story only really picked up towards the end (which happens) but I wish it had hooked me deeper sooner.

For this book, because of the items that just didn’t sit nicely with me I mentioned above, along with not feeling like this book really stayed with me long, I am giving it 3.25 stars. I loved the concept and at the end thinking I had the answer and then getting shocked, so glad that I did read it to get that small enjoyment.

I liked the Missus & John-the-Dig’s relationship as like two friends having to come together to raise some kids

HOW DID HESTER NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE THIRD CHILD WHY DID MISSUS & JOHN SAY NOTHING ABOUT THEM?

I should have realized there was someone else in the story since it was all in the third person while Vida was recounting it to Margaret.

Honestly said that Margaret & Aurelius didn’t like….at least keep in touch or stay together at the end. I liked when they interacted.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Terminal illness, Grief, Violence, Death, Animal death, and Gore

Moderate: Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Incest, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Mental illness, Confinement, and Kidnapping

mitchell_1's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Chronic illness, and Death

Moderate: Animal death, Dementia, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Child death, Suicide, and Ableism

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit

t_higgsreviews's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

5 Stars
CAWPILE = 9.43

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Terminal illness, Self harm, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Vomit, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Excrement, and Medical content

lestatsoul's review

dark slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

anni_swanilda's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Chronic illness, Death, Excrement, Grief, Terminal illness, and Vomit

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Incest