Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

18 reviews

afender's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

1.0

The plot and set up of this book had a lot of promise, however the spooky mystery was immediately overshadowed by the intense and unnecessary romance that takes place. The main character spends most of her time crying and over describing her interactions with the male characters. The graphic intimate scenes are jarring and out of sync with the rest of the story. Reader beware the ghost story is a subplot, and this is a miscategorized romance novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Rape

jenwestpfahl's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.0

The ghost story was compelling enough to continue and the answers were obvious to the reader just the right amount of steps before the characters. I liked the descriptions of Maddy’s antics.

The instant romance was rather hard to believe and kind of weighed down the story. I was not at all expecting the graphic descriptions that went along with this part of the story and wasn’t a fan. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Suicide and War

searendt's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Ok mystery; definitely doesn’t pass the Bechdel Test. 

It’s a decent enough ghost story and there are some haunting elements and descriptions that are engaging. 

But the female protagonist is quite flat. Despite being the main character, all she does is worry about the two male characters. Even when she’s been terrorized by a literal ghost for the first time in her life, her inner turmoil is all “I wonder how Male #1 is handling this? Is Male #2 strong enough to handle this given his shell shock? He is a war hero. What would my male relative think of Male 1? What will both of them think of my reaction?” 

How about - there’s a literal ghost saying murderous things to you - What about your turmoil? Or how about the abused and vengeful ghost’s? 

The story loses major stars for having such a 2-dimensional main character, and unlikeable male main characters. It’s not the gothic historical setting of the novel that holds it back - Jane Eyre as a character is 10x more relatable and real. 

This story could have been so much better. I did finish it because I did want to know the conclusion, which is why it gets 2 stars vs 1. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Violence and War

callistag1's review

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: War

kbio's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Blood

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Injury/Injury detail

rochelleisreading's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War

csondra's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

I was expecting a haunted mystery. Instead I got a predictable story with absolutely no character development. The FMC reads like an insecure pubescent teen girl going through her boy crazy stage. Sex just comes from literally nowhere. I just couldn’t take this book seriously. Maybe if you’re into horny horror?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Rape

lampbee's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-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? No

3.0

Really like her mysteries they’re not always complex but they’re entertaining. This one was less entertaining , the plot focused a weird amount on explicit sex scenes which didn’t feel like they matched with the tone of the story and went on for a very long time. The mystery itself was interesting but too much time spent on developing two romances so the actual ghost case was sort of bland. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Maybe it was intentional but considering the suicide in the book was caused by rape and sexual violence , I found the gratuitous sex scenes between the two main characters was weird — and the slow pulling of the man from his shell was annoying, not enough time to care about why he covers his war scars etc - her parents deaths was way more interesting than all the sex they kept having while their friend was dying

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

thereadedit's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed getting to know our characters, and how they interacted with Maddy. Maddy was definitely a force of nature that couldn't be contained. Even in death. She deserved so much better than the hand she was dealt in life. 

I loved being able to see the world through the eyes of a woman in 1920s London. You were able to see how much things have changed throughout the years. Along with change you were able to see the simplicity of the times without the complexity of technology. 

This was definitely a story that had to be followed closely or you missed out on details that you would later appreciate. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War