Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

124 reviews

callme_tippy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Heartbreaking & beautiful, I loved this one!

Ever since I read "I, Tituba" I have been more open to historical novels and ever since I read Tananarive Due's short story collection I have been wanting to read more of her work. This book was the perfect combination!

This is not an easy read, it is heavy and challenging to get through but Due knows exactly how to pace a novel to give some let up right when you think you cant take anymore. I think the decision to have this told from 2 points of view was genius, in that it provided that "let up" with a POV switch right when it becomes too much. 

I am a big fan of horror and it seems that I will become a big fan on Due as well as this provided everything it needed to and more and was a beautiful and heartbreaking tribute to her great uncle. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

raisinreads's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

mitchell_1's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

fakeppy's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lyndseyalexandra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

yasline's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Vomit, and Car accident

mmccombs's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Probably one of the most devastating books I’ve read in a long time. For it being a fairly long and incredibly heavy book, I still found myself flying through each chapter. The character work, especially for Robbie and Gloria (and for many side characters) was phenomenally done. We spent enough time with them both to fully understand their motivations, dreams, fears, and love for each other, so when we raced towards the conclusion it felt immensely satisfying. I loved how this book combined historical fiction, horror, and ghost stories, it wasn’t just one thing and made for an immersive and heart-wrenching journey.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer and Police brutality

ikennas_league's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Murder

thebookshelfblossom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book… wow. I’m not sure I breathed for the last 20% while I listened. It’s set in northern FL in 1950, when Robbie, a young Black boy, is sentenced to 6 months at a segregated reform school. You think the ghosts, or “haints,” Robbie sees are what will spook you, but you learn that what’s flesh and blood is much more sinister. 

The audiobook is fantastic. I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy the singular narrator with dual POVs, but I did. This isn’t my normal genre, but I’m glad I branched out. Due does an incredible job immersing you in the surroundings. 

If you enjoy historical fiction, and want to try one that is ghosts this spooky season, give this one a try. But PLEASE check all TW. Some really horrific themes are on page. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

sofipitch's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.75

This was great, the horror comes not from the ghosts but the real life institutions and cruelty that existed/still persist today. My only complaint would be it is a little long, sometimes I wondered if a character who's pov was given really added much to the story, but I tend to not like many povs so that's maybe a me thing. This should have won the dragon award for horror

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Racism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Pedophilia and Racial slurs