Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Sundial by Catriona Ward

16 reviews

kds247's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was well written and had some really interesting twists

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death

stabilesero's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Now this is finally a type of Thriller I can get behind. The perfect mix of shocking, horrifying plot with little bits of intrigue and suspense. 
I can't say I was a huge fan of the main character, Rob, but I loved Callie. I maybe empathised a bit too much with the sullen, I-hate-everyone-but-I'm-entirely-misunderstood trope but I love it. I found Callie to be really endearing and thoroughly looked forward to getting to her next perspective to see what the other spin was to her side of what was going on. 
I found Sundial as a location vastly interesting, as well as Rob & Jack's childhood with the dogs and scientific experiments.

It all very much plays into the psychology of "Are you born evil/bad, and can that be scientifically changed or environmentally/nurtured to change". 

I usually really struggle to connect with US settings/locations because I'm from the UK; whether it be lack of description or the same overused descriptions, but Ward really pulled off the Californian desert setting. It was done beautifully and gave it every justice it deserved. 
I think Ward is going to be one of my top Thriller authors, and I am very keen to pick up more of her work.
Also, just f**k Rob's husband.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, and Miscarriage

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

lionfish_22's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

hellokatya's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

the only reason this doesn’t have a 5 star rating is because it did have some lulls in it — otherwise, this book is beautiful. would highly recommend. 
beautiful tale of mother and daughter, of sisters, and escaping the path that’s been laid out for you. so gorgeous please read it 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Kidnapping

keen's review

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Trafficking

dreamycactus's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Self harm

raenbow's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Vomit, and Murder

kermit_the_wrong's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

Never really *got there*. It had potential but just fizzled out somewhere along the way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Infertility, Sexual content, and Abandonment

soavezefiretto's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse

soradsauce's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail