Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

19 reviews

queer_bookwyrm's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

4 ⭐ CW: violence, child death mentions, child sexual abuse mentions, death, death of a parent, self-harm 

The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco is book one in the Girl from the Well duology. This was a YA horror book based on the Japanese ghost story of Okiku, the same story that The Ring is based on. This was incredibly creepy and the perfect spooky season read. If it were a movie, I'd be too much of a wimp to watch it lol. 

We follow the ghost of Okiku, a vengeful spirit who preys on men who have harmed and killed children. The spirits of the children they killed are chained to their backs until the ghost frees them. This is her only goal until she encounters Tark, a 15 year old boy with seals tattooed on his skin and is haunted by another much more evil spirit. Tark and his cousin Callie travel to Japan to fulfill his mother's wish of returning to a temple to hopefully rid him of the evil spirit. 

I really liked learning about some ancient Japanese rituals and ghost stories. Okiku is a compelling character with a sad backstory, and has a noble cause. Though the deaths she inflicts are gruesome, it is saved for those who have inflicted worse on other children. The entire point of view is from the ghost's perspective, which made for an interesting storytelling device. 

Read this if you like The Ring, vengeful spirits, exorcisms, and creepy kids. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Death of parent

Moderate: Death

Minor: Child death and Sexual violence

beanbag's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I went into this book having never read anything by Rin Chupeco and just a suggestion from a friend. However I'm very happy I listened to the audiobook/read it. The author is phenomenal at making you care for the characters and their fates. 

While I wouldn't classify this as horror there are many horror-adjacent elements. None are them are over-the-top or graphic. Chupeco is phenomenal at descriptions and gives just enough for it to be unnerving,

however much of the violence is commited on horrible people like the Smiling man (literally cheered when Okiku killed him) and even then it's not grotesque, just enough to let your mind wander and create a horrible visage

. The main focus is on the focal characters and the curses afflicted them (some literal, some metaphorical).

An amazing book and I will certainly check out more of Rin Chupeco's work.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Suicide attempt

dreamerfreak's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

kryskross's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, and Blood

makenna_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The Details:
Narrated by Andi Arndt
Unabridged

This reminded me of Anna Dressed in Blood.

There's were scenes that generally terrified me, and it amplified from listening this at home, on my own, in the dark. I loved that.

I liked that the main perspective was from Okiku, the ghost, as she observed life around her. It particularly interesting when some touched with the sight interacted with her in some way.

I was fascinated by Okiku's habit of counting. I think this is usually used in myths and legends to distract some of the paranormal beings, but here it felt self soothing and we found out the reasoning for it later, which added to a compelling back story.

The dolls were really creepy! 

I definitely zoned out during some scenes, but generally this was hooking and intriguing.

I immediately went and listened to the companion novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Vomit

vidalovesspice's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying and Torture

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

roksyreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

Dark, tense, and a little bit mysterious; this is a great ghost story inspired by Japanese legend that is satisfyingly creepy but also oddly sweet. It was a comfortable read, easy to finish in a couple of sessions, but balanced nicely by a steady pace. It won't be for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape

lodestar45's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia