Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Confessions by Kanae Minato

13 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I think I’m in the minority here, but I really enjoyed this book. Japanese courtesan and writer Murasaki Shikibu is credited as writing the first novel in history, and it was a psychological novel that launched a cult favorite around The Tale of Genji that still thrives and is taught all over the world today. I feel like Japanese are still the best at this genre, and I love that this book's subgenre within the psychological novel category is called iyamisu in Japanese which literally translates to “ew mystery.” This book was far more satisfying than my most recent Stephen King (It). Books like this make me feel better because I know I’ll never reach the depths of darkness written here, no matter how upset I get. I feel safer, and that’s the greatness of writers like Minato. Too bad only two of her books are available at my libraries in English translations.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

beightmana's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Confinement, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

whatzoreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

Confessions is a relentless read about the repercussions and reprisals of revenge. Warning this book won’t let you out of its savage grasp even after its last page. This one will stay with me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Toxic friendship

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Minor: Transphobia, Mass/school shootings, and Pregnancy

callidoralblack's review

dark emotional mysterious sad

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

oceancarr30's review

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

5.0

This book was a short and fast paced thriller that I recommend to everyone who wants a plot twist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, and Murder

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture and Abandonment

Minor: Chronic illness, Self harm, Sexual content, and Blood

hayley2u's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0

I should start off by saying this is there second Japanese translation I've read and I didn't like either one. I think it's a personal preference thing. I don't seem to click with the writing style. 

I really wanted to like this. I've heard amazing things about the plot and twists the story takes. Don't get me wrong this book is a rollercoaster, but I wasn't invested. If you need to relate to characters to be invested (like I do) this is not a book for you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting

spooderman's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Transphobia, and Pregnancy

Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

katonthejellicoe's review

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

no other review necessary, just this:

DISTURBED AND TERRIFIED YET OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Blood