Reviews tagging 'Death'

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen

35 reviews

howlinglibraries's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

 

"It's a dangerous thing, to try and give someone everything. One day, you might find you've given away things you should've kept."

This was one of the most beautifully haunting books I've read in quite a while and has easily, instantly found its way onto the 'best books of 2024' list in my mind. My Darling Dreadful Thing is precisely what I want from a gothic horror novel: dark, romantic, claustrophobic, and downright chilling. Scenes of horrific imagery and even worse traumas take place against an immersive and poetic backdrop filled with forbidden love, and I adored it. It broke my heart more than once. I can't wait to read more of Johanna's works. ♥

“. . . there’s something missing from my life, something dreadful, something darling.”

✨ Representation: sapphic romance, queer MC, Indonesian and bi/pan love interest 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Racism, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Murder

Moderate: Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, and Pedophilia

artemismoon057's review against another edition

dark fast-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? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

bookswithabbey1's review against another edition

dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

pey333's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Racism

Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Sexual assault, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

etpreads's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Miscarriage, Blood, and Vomit

grey_poppy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was my first horror novel. I really enjoyed how the author fit horror not just in the plot, but also in the words chosen as descriptors. It wasn't particularly scary, which I'm kinda glad for, but the descriptors were very vivid and I felt like I could visualize every creepy moment perfectly. Also appreciated the Sapphic romance in it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Child death and Incest

Minor: Abortion

quabbityash's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Incest, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, and Murder

sersi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Vomit, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Incest, and Medical trauma

nadiarausa's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Vomit, Murder, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, Infertility, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy

alxisrae's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Firstly this book exceeded my expectation. I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrator did an amazing job. This book was a gothic dream with the mood throughout this book. Roos was so darling and naive - yet we got to see her grow through the book. I’m so saddened for her by the end of this book. Ruth is so so complex I really enjoyed her. This was Crimson Peak-ish vibes and this I could see just painted in my mind by not only the author but the narrator. The story between Agnus and Roos was also beautiful with a tragic sorrow at the end. But the ending leaves a small bit of hope for not only Roos but Ruth as well. Highly recommend!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Incest, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment