Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

10 reviews

sage_alexandra's review against another edition

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

3.5

It had me in the first half, but the, motive, didn't work for me.

Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but I wasn't expecting cult sacrifice. The movie featuring a supernatural killer was a rip off that it wouldn't be your regular neighborhood serial killer. When talk of the Owl Man got brought up, I was expecting some Mothman shit (but, evil, Mothman is a good little dude). I wasn't pleased by the turn of events but oh well. But when it wasn't that, and was just a cult, I was disappointed.

All in all, I appreciated the representation in the book. I read "Cinderella is Dead" a couple of years ago and enjoyed both books. I wish it had gone more into the horror simulation, but I understand that wasn't the focus

even though it would've been nice to balance out the future insanity.

I'm glad I clocked Kyle from the beginning. The bodies being discovered under the couch (when they were supposed to have been ambulanced away), and the "I called the police" from Mr. Dumont were both red flags that I wish Charity had seen immediately.

Also, what the fuck was up with the sheriff?? He was just never brought up again? He had to have been in on it, right? I was expecting a cloaked figure reveal.

And the epilogue had me more freaked out than anything else. Girl, you just raised your dead girlfriend from the lake, and you AREN'T OPENING YOUR EYES?!?! As your hear the most unnerving sounds of water dripping from a person, and footsteps??? Like, I know you were expecting it, but aren't you a little concerned that she's going to be a rotting corpse?? I'm imagining some "Haunting of Bly Manor" lady of the lake grabbing your throat shit. My skin was CRAWLING

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Vomit

triggs4780's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

erikagibson126's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

startjpw23's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book is a great take on the summer camp/slasher/final girl trope. The initial set-up is clever and not one I have seen before. The book does a great job building tension. If a book can have jump scares, this book has them. There is a mystery intertwined with the horror. I liked the resolution of the mystery. This main protagonist, Charity, is an appealing lead character. Her responses to the events in the book were realistic. The responses of the other characters were realistic also. I can't recommend this book highly enough for those who like the horror trope I described above. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death

faduma's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

readwithsophsx's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

the_wistful_word_witch's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

5.0

OH! MY! FINAL! GIRL!

Kalynn Bayron comes right out of the creepy basement door swinging. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I couldn't put it down, but my heart was racing the whole time like I was the one being chased by a murderer!

You can kind of anticipate what's going to happen throughout most of the book... that is, until the last few chapters and then everything you THOUGHT you knew gets thrown into Mirror Lake. 

And the prologue!! I mean, I was kind of hoping for that ending and Ms Bayron did not disappoint!! 🖤

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, and Vomit

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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

August pick for Amy McCaw's YA Book Club 2023.

What a fantastic debut into horror. Once the insanity of the plot began and the real fear kicked in, I felt so sick in anticipation and discomfort.

I loved how fast paced this was but without feeling rushed or skimping on the detail at all - it was the perfect balance.

I enjoyed all the horror references and was looking forward for the potential of more Easter eggs for scenario's to come.

The whole plot being set at a horror camp simulation was so cool. It was the perfect backdrop and I loved how rich in its own history and legend it was. It felt so real.

We had a fantastic cast of characters and the pulled the story through with so much personality. I couldn't help but connect to all of the main players in some way.

The plot twist at the end was absolutely amazing! I was so shocked!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail