Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

300 reviews

chaoshermit's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I had started the second book in this series first and got like a quarter through before realising it was a sequel. That being said, this series does look like it’s going to be in my favourites list. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

maryhungerford's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Vomit

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

Such a sad story packaged in a terrible tale! I was excited to read this trilogy, but I'm reconsidering. I heard the third book is really good, which means I'll now need to read the second first. Better be worth it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kylel64's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Child abuse and Rape

kwims's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault

ghostinyourcellar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

gracecrandall's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

nataliesfx's review against another edition

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, and Colonisation

janetpants's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

uhhjeepers's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.0

This book isn’t exactly what I expected it would be based on what I’d heard, but upon finishing it, I think that’s okay.

Stephen Graham Jones puts his whole heart into this project, which you would easily know just by reading the first chapter. His knowledge on slashers informs the book perfectly, and being a slasher connoisseur myself, it was really fun being like “I get that reference!” 

His characters are alive and, when necessary, fleshed out in a refreshing way. Sometimes people are there for body fodder, as is the slasher way, but he really birthed some compelling and lovable characters that I was happy to know and, in some cases, sad to lose. His characterization is arguably the best part of the book, as when I felt uninterested, my commitment to Jade and Letha kept me chugging through.

That being said, I do wish that more of the book had the pacing and development that the final three chapters had. But, I’m also aware enough to understand exactly why they weren’t. You win some, you lose some, but overall SGJ has a win with this book.

I’m actually much more eager to read the sequels than I thought I’d be, and I believe that most of the struggles I had with this book won’t really present themselves in the next one. Keep an eye out for that log, I guess!

My qualifications: I LOVE slashers, and I’m pretty fond of this book. Take all of this as you will.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape