Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Return by Rachel Harrison

16 reviews

cursivewolf's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

actually had me weeping.
grief and guilt are both monsters

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Body horror, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death, Eating disorder, and Gore

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Cancer and Eating disorder

heypretty52's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Minor: Blood, Death, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Grief, Vomit, Cancer, Violence, Gore, and Infidelity

slimepuppy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

Oh, this one was a gut punch, simultaneously scary and so, so sad. The definitive "sometimes dead is better" book.

The body horror is genuinely disgusting and disturbing, and I'm not someone who is usually fazed by it. The beginning of the book builds such an oppressive atmosphere, you can't help but start to feel like Elise's growing paranoia is spreading to you, too.

The characters are complex, multidimensional and flawed while still retaining enough of a charm that shows why they're friends.

My only complaint really is the very ending of the book - I wish we got more of an exploration of the feelings and an in depth talk between the characters instead of them simply acknowledging each other's feelings - it doesn't really seem like things changed, even if the characters say it did.

Also wtf did the authoritie do about the hotel L O L ?????? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Eating disorder, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Cancer, Gore, and Death of parent

ilaxaria's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Vomit, Body horror, Death, Grief, and Infidelity

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Cancer, Classism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Ableism and Sexual content

julsi'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Spoiler

an interesting take of not being able to let go converging with a physical manifestation that no longer lets you avoid difficult and unanswerable questions; wrapped up in a horror story that everyone involved in wants to be a miracle.

  Well written and thought provoking even under the horror premise.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, and Grief

monstersinspace's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-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

3.0

Spoilers: The story sorta meandered around a bit and only really picked up like 75% through the book. It was like the author wanted to write both a coming of age story about out growing friendships and how life changes, but hey also this girl might be a demon. It was well written and I liked the characters I just think some of it got lost in the interpersonal relationships which isn't necessaryly a bad thing, but I went in expecting a horror book and I'm not sure if it fully delivered on that.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gore, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Stalking, Grief, Abandonment, and Infidelity

traa'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
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Murder, Mental illness, Alcohol, Grief, Cannibalism, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Stalking, and Violence

Moderate: Car accident, Fatphobia, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, Body shaming, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Racism, Bullying, and Xenophobia

kt2e56's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.0

Unlike most of the other reviews, I actually didn’t mind the buildup before shot hits the fan. I think it adds a lot to the story and makes the characters feel real, still a little annoying, but real. Some of their questionable decisions make sense because we spent so much time with them. The horror elements really work once shit kicks off. The tension is thick. The creature design is great. I really dug it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Body horror, Confinement, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Violence, and Vomit

cjblates's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Grief

Minor: Cancer and Car accident