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pollyhall's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
danielghurst's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
THE DAMAGE by Caitlin Wahrer is the tense story of the Hall family dealing with a major trauma. When twenty-year-old Nick is the victim of a sexual assault, he turns to his protective older brother, Tony, and Tony's wife, Julia, for help. Told in a dual timeline in which Julia meets with the detective from Nick's case years later, the story is about how the characters' actions affect their relationships and the damage that reverberates from that one awful night. This book is a fantastic blend of suspense and character study. With the juxtaposition of the dual timelines, some well-placed cliffhangers, and a touch of dramatic irony, Wahrer keeps the pages turning in this small story. We do see glimpses of the wider world of the court system, police department, and local press, but most of the drama is contained to a handful of characters. Each one is well-developed and comes alive on the page with just enough backstory to inform their present choices and with dialogue that feels true to life and the individuals. Much of the tension in the story comes from their relationships, and the light touch of suspense allows space to address difficult topics (see content warnings below) with the care they deserve while keeping the story compelling. THE DAMAGE is a stunning debut, and I look forward to seeing what Wahrer does next!CW: sexual assault, physical violence, self-harm, overdose, suicide attempt, alcoholism, child abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Abandonment