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howlinglibraries's review
- 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
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
bookswithabbey1's review against another edition
- 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
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
kylosten's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If you liked The Turn of the Screw or Our Hideous Progeny you will probably like this.
It's told by the MC, Roos Beckman, while she's talking to a psychiatric doctor after everything has unfolded so they know the ending but Roos has all the details.
This is going to be one I continue to think about.
If you go to pick this up I would be sure to check content warnings.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Sexual assault, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy
nadiarausa's review against another edition
- 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
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
jesshart8's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, and Blood
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
daniellestarredpages's review
2.0
I have to say I wasn't the biggest fan of the way the author left the existence of ghosts up to readers. As a concept I understand it but personally I felt this wasn't the story to leave that plot point open.
I was quite apathetic toward the main character and found her P.O.V a slog to get through but I also found the interspersed psychologist sessions to be slow as well, so I really can't say zi enjoyed much of the of the writing in this book.
The Sapphic relationship, I think did a good job of showing a toxic obsession. So that is one element I guess I could add to the pros list concerning this book.
Overall I can definitely say I didn't enjoy this book.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Incest, Infertility, and Miscarriage
kay_chan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
LOVED the premise, characters and setting were interesting, if a bit shallow.
The POV switch off was what threw me off the most. Having the FMC become an omnipresent "future" narrator was not the shift the story called for. Distanced me too much to feel the creep because I knew it all worked out because she started narrating her story instead of letting it unfold.
The only ick I had was that I was never truly sure how old Roos was during her abuse and then her being "sold" to Agnes. Also, their "relationship" gave me weird vibes in general because of the odd power dynamics and Roos being so blatantly *ignorant* of being a victim most of her life. Agnes' savior complex hit me the wrong way, which i guess was also the point in comparing it to "Turn of the Screw".
Childhood innocence vs intentions
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Body horror and Gore
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Incest, and Medical trauma
marimaria's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
And the addition of the Doctor's transcripts lowkey gave me
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Self harm
aparker89's review
- 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
Absolutely fantastic writing!
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism