Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Nestala bez traga by Chevy Stevens

3 reviews

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.25

To say I liked/enjoyed this book feels wrong because this book was very heavy. Let's just say this is the first ever thriller where I was shedding tears. It did take me some time to get into (about 60 pages, but after that, I was hooked) because of how the story was formatted. So, just to prepare you the story is told through therapy sessions where only the main character speaks, and in these sessions, she starts off talking about a detail/event that happened to her in the present then goes into what happened to her then it ends off with her in the present again (that's how each chapter starts and ends). The first 50-60% of this book is her (Annie) recounting what happened to her and how she escapes. And my gosh it's so heartbreaking to read. 

Something I want to point out is that I personally like how the author presented Annie's personality through how she acts and speaks because you really get a feel into the type of person she is and how this experience has shaped who she's become. I think the author did a good job in presenting what an experience like this can take from someone and something as tragic as this creates deep scars into someone; scars that may never go away. 

The rest of the novel explores the present-day investigation into who did this to her and why. Now I personally feel very indifferent towards the twist. I understood the twist, however, I understand why many people feel like it was a cop-out and that it lacked luster. Especially because I don't think we got enough closure especially pertaining to certain characters like Luke (I really felt for him; he was so kind). 

I did not like Christina and I'm glad Annie finally let her go. I can't believe she even forgave her the first time. It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth that she and Luke slept together while Annie was out being tortured by "The Freak".

  Overall, if you do think about reading this I really do suggest checking those trigger warnings. I've never cried in a thriller until I read this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Grief, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Body horror, Death, Violence, Torture, Stalking, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, Murder, Medical content, Cursing, Body shaming, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Cancer, Car accident, and Animal cruelty

taylorlanxon's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

3.75

I think the concept of the story was awesome, and the flashbacks to the protagonist’s experienced were strong, but the layout of the book as therapy sessions gets a bit repetitive and is a bit poorly written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Body horror, Eating disorder, Confinement, and Sexual violence

paperbackbea's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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? Yes

2.0

This one did not do it for me, which is extremely disappointing because I had seen/heard really good things about this novel! I found the writing to be a bit immature, and I did not like this ending at all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Rape, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Body horror, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Murder, Stalking, and Kidnapping