Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Gerald's Game by Stephen King

11 reviews

19mclaste's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

sirbellows's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

SUCH A GOOD STEPHEN KING BOOK. This was peak King: claustrophobic terror of the mundane through a plot that is so primally horrific. There’s a depth to the MC’s backstory as well that made the story read as a bit more important, and the “supernatural” elements were just grounded and realistic enough to give me actual, real-life shivers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture

Moderate: Body horror

claireltravers's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, and Rape

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

theimposter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

This book is a beautiful and traumatizing expression of trauma (sexual trauma specifically) and of the mind’s internal family system which Stephen King writes so accurately and in such a personifying way. It was also the most triggering book I’ve ever read and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who is triggered by sexual abuse/rape or anyone who doesn’t want to read gore and body horror. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

kreglow's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

ansatejones's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

She should have adopted the damn dog at the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

bookishchaos's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Great idea but not great execution. Considering this is a fairly short story, nothing really happened other then flashbacks and subplots. The beginning was very rushed then the middle was EXTREMELY slow. Instead of random flashbacks, we should've learned more about Jessie's past in the beginning and have us readers slowly learn how truly evil her husband was. Stephen King has some way better books to be read, I wouldn't recommend this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Torture

ajg2289's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

1.0

This was my first Stephen King novel and will be my last. He uses the word “cunt” in a really obnoxious way and he seems to be darkly fascinated by children and sexuality and exploiting them in that way. Making up horrific stories and scenarios and describing them in the most dense, pointless way. DO NOT RECOMMEND. 
The twist at the end was laughable and had nothing to do with the story prior the last 40 pages. Terrible.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

hb2249's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This book was overwhelming to say the least. I am usually fine when it comes to reading books with very dark themes, but this was too much for me. When I finished it, I definitely regretted reading it, but thinking on it, it certainly set new boundaries for me when it came to serious topics. If thinking about reading PLEASE read the trigger warnings before, I went into this blind and I kind of regret it. Definitely a book I will only ever read once.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Blood

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Car accident

This book is forever known as the trauma book to my friends and I. DO NOT read if you have sensitivities to sexual assault, especially between adult and child. This book hits hard and it has graphic details of crimes in it. It heavily details mental trauma and mental illness in the main character.

urrubberducky's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment