Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

The Merciless by Danielle Vega

12 reviews

itsjadenbaby's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

If you know anything about my reading preferences, I hate paranormal explanations for the things that happen in books. That’s why this is getting 3 stars. I honestly would’ve have just love it if it was the horror version of Mean Girls, which is exactly what it was giving until the end/point of “explanation”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Toxic friendship, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, Murder, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Emotional abuse, Confinement, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

susyispnk's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I was surprised by how bloody this one is. It's interesting even if the end left me wanting a bit more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Death, Bullying, Blood, and Kidnapping

chuibug's review against another edition

dark 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

bashsbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

To be honest, The Merciless was not what I would call a great book. I started it three or four times before I finally committed to finishing it - and the only reason I felt compelled to do that is because I impulse-bought the entire series at Barnes & Noble six or so years ago. This is billed as a teen horror on par with Stephen King, which is a laughable comparison. The plot twists were predictable and boring, and not much actually happened, despite Vega's desperate attempts to make it seem like there was a lot going on. It was just a slog through a nothing burger. Also, gore and grossness alone don't make a piece of media good horror. They have to serve a particular theme or plot in an interesting way. This book had so much potential, too, in its premise - a teen mil brat moves to a new town and gets embroiled with religion? That's a great premise. But it was rushed and it was nothing. Disappointing.

I may eventually read the other three books... but only because they're sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

-Graphic descriptions of insects (specifically cockroaches) -Religious trauma

ilaxaria's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Death, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Torture, Animal death, Alcohol, Violence, Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, Blood, Gaslighting, Bullying, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Self harm, Drug abuse, and Vomit

Minor: Sexual harassment and Infidelity

phoenix2818's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Blood, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty

_azure76's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Animal cruelty, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Vomit, Alcohol, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Violence

bobbiejowoo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This one was dark and brutal and gory. 

I'm not typically a fan of religious horror (books) and the first time I read this one (when it was released) I remember HATING the ending. Knowing now that it is part of a series I think I like the ending more this read through... I'm not entirely sure if I actually liked this book? However, I will say that this book was fantastic for what it was. I'm going to read the next book, for sure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Torture

werewolvesnotswearwolves's review against another edition

dark tense

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Alcohol, Murder, Physical abuse, Gore, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Animal death, Body horror, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Dementia, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Self harm

ghouligan's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death