Reviews with content warning for Gore - The Taking of Jake Livingston

Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

63 reviews

blewballoon's review against another edition

I don't enjoy this writing style, the constant similes and metaphors feel like interruptions while I'm trying to decipher what's actually happening. I really dislike the Sawyer POV chapters in general, I don't want to read more of them. I think this would work best for younger readers who are currently in the throes of teen angst and like feeling dark and literary but want something more urban than dark academia.

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eniahreads's review against another edition

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slow-paced

1.5

It's not like it was that bad... there were ideas, it was interesting. Sawyer's side, while the most cliché of a school shooter background, was intriguing, as well as how Jake and Sawyer were connected in their feelings, seeing how someone could understand him.

But it was also extremely low paced, boring, and with such confusing descriptions that it turns out I couldn't even grasp the horror from what was happening. There were stuff going on I couldn't understand what it was exactly. There's also no explanation of what Jake's capable to do, what the ghosts are capable to do, and the "rules" of that other world etc ; so you don't know the limits, you don't know if something happening is special, extraordinary, can't be happening, or totally normal.

I honestly gives a big feeling of the author totally understanding his world and how the story happens, while having no idea on how to explain that to the readers. I felt lost, I felt let down, I felt confused.

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sammy357's review

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dark emotional tense medium-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

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cover2covertx's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense slow-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

There was a lot of internal dialogue and monologuing- a lot. The first half of the book I was completely invested but the second half was a lot of talking and thinking and not a lot of actual action driving the plot. Also, we need to include trigger warnings on the audiobooks too, because while I was prepared for the difficult content related to the violence of the ghost’s past, childhood SA is a deal breaker for me. Thankfully this was a buddy read so I had a friend fill me in before I got to that part. But I struggled overall with this one.

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tessa_stephens's review

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dark tense medium-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? No

2.0

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kryskross's review

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

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herelieshenry's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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

3.75

This is a tough, but well-written, book. I’m a firm believer in the idea that if a child is old enough to experience something, they’re old enough to learn about it in an age-appropriate manner; that extends to the very difficult topics being dealt with here that, unfortunately, children experience every day, from mass violence to familial abuse to bullying and discrimination. On top of that, I think Douglass is genuinely very talented at writing Young Adult Horror, and these combine into a piece of art that I think is both accessible and very well-done.

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evelynyle_88's review against another edition

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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

4.0

I love that I decided to change my edition of this book to audiobook. From dnf list, to finished. The Taking of Jake Livingston took my breath away. I love every second of it. This book was triggering for me but it is indeed a good book. I can't imagine if myself is Jake; being a medium. I love how creepy every chapter were. Thank you for the story, Ryan! You are brilliant!

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nemeiadarkwalker's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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asinglebird's review

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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