Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Near the Bone by Christina Henry

108 reviews

ethapagesofwonder's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Decent read. You can feel the atmosphere and creepiness that has been written in this story. It's a very fast read, making you feel on the edge of your seat with all that chasing scenes, and you can easily finish this book in one sitting. I wish we could get a little more insight about the monster and where it came from.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage and Kidnapping

unbeeleafable's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

Ugh, this is a tough one to give a rating. The main storyline is compelling and gripping albeit extremely hard to read in some places. Some bits just felt silly and out of place-

the 3 hikers calling themselves cryptozoologists and William being a heroin dealer? Cmon.

The inner monologue was written cleverly and the overall pacing of the story  was excellent, but the (what I feel are) heavy-handed ‘modern’ details and unnecessarily profuse descriptions of abuse turned me off from giving this a higher rating. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

scottneumann's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

aparker89's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ahhh! Ms Henry has done it again! Damn! I'm shook!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent, and Murder

skranz's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, and Death of parent

sabrinz's review

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

The story starts with a young woman living at the top of a mountin in an isolated cabin with her husband. She stumbles upon a killed fox that raises some alarm bells, her husband, however, dismisses the fox initially and is more than angry with her for dallying in checking the snares - the task he had set for her.
As we follow Mattie and discover that her husband is far, far from loving and caring and that there is more to the dead fox - a huge beast roaming the mountaintop that will draw people and endanger the isolation William, Mattie's husband has created.

The story is quite gripping and the tension is high throughout. In addition to the monster, the story of how Mattie (and William) came to be on this mountain top is shown as well, picking up on important topics of blame and guilt along the way.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Miscarriage, and Vomit

liliana92's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

the restless nights I had dreaming that I was being chased. This book was INTENSE. 
I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. Mattie's development, the intense emotions I felt from fear to pity to sadness to fear again. It was very well written. 
I think the only thing I would change was C.P.'s seemingly lack of depth and the somewhat unsatisfactory end. There was a little something missing. Maybe C.P. could have been killed too haha

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

leilawoodhouse's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Quite sad I didn't like this! I felt like there was too much going on. The William storyline, the creature, the 3 explorers. I thought they didn't really blend very well. I also thought the characters (mainly the Jen, Griffin and C.P) were a bit 2 dimensional

I thought that Jen and Griffin's deaths were unnecessary. I didn't see what,  especially Jen's, deaths added to the plot apart from showing that the monster was protective of its baby. I thought Griffin was built up quite a bit only for him to be killed quite soon after. The monster was never really explained either. Where did it come from? Why is it here? What is it? In another book that may have added to the mystery and given the world depth but in this book it just seemed rushed.

The ending was so abrupt for me!

we hear alot about Heather but then nothing really happens at the end

I think the creature and the William storyline would have stood much better individually. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Death of parent

trrm's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved this book! You have multiple stories going on once you meet the newer characters to explain various plots in the story. I loved how Mattie went from a little, timid, dormouse to someone who finds inner strength she never remembered having before coming to the cabin. 

This book disturbed me a bit too so if you’re not into kidnapping and the makings of a child bride, this one isn’t for you. I always struggle with stories about young children and sexual abuse, this one caught me off-guard. Once the realization is made and you connect some dots, you’re even more freaked out!

The only thing I want to know is: Does she ever find Heather?!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

darquedreamer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder