Reviews tagging 'Death'

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

35 reviews

wreadaptation's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An emotional journey that left me wrecked but somehow guided me into a place of magic. This book resonated deeply with me on so many levels - as a daughter, a mother, a partner, and a friend. Habeck captures the complexity of life changes, grief, and abuse with metaphors that feel so vivid and raw.

Reading this book while navigating my own grief felt like it was heaven-sent. The story doesn’t shy away from the pain but instead weaves it into something both haunting and beautiful. It’s one of those rare books that truly understands the human experience, offering comfort and connection to anyone facing their own storms.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Grief, and Abandonment

chelle22's review against another edition

emotional

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

ayking's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I was recommended this book and skeptical from the beginning. When you read the book flap it says “Wren and her husband, Lewis - a man who… transforms into a great white shark.” Safe to say my brain was confused on how a book with that as part of the plot would be “moving” and “visceral” yet Emily Habeck succeeded in just that. If you’re open to a new way to look at life, death, relationships and new beginnings, I would highly recommend this read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

sarafinley's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment

lovelyandmorbid's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Almost poetic, the defitintion of the fanfic tag "crack taken seriously", I thought it would be ridiculous then sad but its pretty upsetting the whole time and the humor comes out in small bits. Although completely different stories, tonally it reminded me of In the Dreamhouse, while that book achieves a lot more, this book feels like it cut from the same cloth in terms of style. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Medical trauma

dweeks417's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

The premise and structure of the book is really well done. The writing is beautiful, if at times going too far with the purple prose. Sometimes the writing is so focused on seeming beautiful and meaningful that it becomes disconnected from the characters. I liked the intergenerational structure and actually enjoyed the mother's section the most. But god is this book bleak. I do not understand people who said this book is hopeful or inspirational. It's just sad, and the women characters suffer the most. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Abortion

elderwoodreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I loved the use of scripts interspersed in the story telling as well as the three distinct acts in three time periods. I originally wanted to give the book 4.5 but the ending really through me for a loop

although perhaps not intentionally it was giving a strong pro-life sentiment that did not resonate well with me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Grief

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Rape and Abortion

emily3954's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

harrirl0's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death

dexlud's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-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

Oh my god. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is possibly the most beautiful, tender writing I’ve read in my life. The story woven throughout these pages is split and muddled around and yet it is still a beautiful one none the less. We follow so many different people, all of which contribute to Wren, our main character, who went from a hiding girl to a strong woman.

There was pregnancy in this book, which had been hinted at for a while, but is still a surprise.

I believe the entire point of the book is to be a sort of comparison against dementia, especially with how the mutation progresses. The parallels are uncanny and it almost definitely reminds me of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic