Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

93 reviews

princess_marie's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Stalking

aaannina's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

cardenasjamiee's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder

emreadsmtimes's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I know that, and many other reviewers, are huge fans of Morbid— and Alaina absolutely killed it!!! 

It was such an amazingly detailed read, from the plot, the characters, the suspense, and even the Lousiana Byou that holds the stories of the dead in its swampy waters… Another element of this story that I loved was the perspective changes from chapter to chapter (starting with Jeremy, to Wren, to Jeremy, and so on.) It provided a unique reading experience that was executed well!

I read this book in 3 days, and I'm usually not a fast reader, but I simply couldn't put this book down. If you're looking for a body horror, mystery, and thriller book— this is the one for you! Can't wait to read The Butcher Game!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Medical content and Kidnapping

Minor: Sexual content and Grief

ashlymarie's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

the_bookish_rose's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Typically this isn’t a genre I read all that often just because it isn’t up my alley most of the time (or usually I’ll try to save the spooky reads for October) but I was requested to read this one. I shocked myself by finishing this in three days, though truthfully the writing style was really easy to read and get through, which has its pros and cons.

I feel like I could see the potential this book had, but it needed some more time to finish cooking. This novel had the common writing dilemma of “telling vs showing”, and personally I always love a good murder tale if it’s written in first person rather than third but that’s just me. I also wish there was more character development into Cal/Jeremy, as we (the readers) don’t really get much backstory into how he got into what he does now other than hunting with his dad when he was younger. I also wanted to like the FMC more, but just didn’t find myself connecting with her fully either, but her determination was solid as to finding out what happened. I also wish there was a much bigger climax for the ending, as it felt a bit lackluster, but I was glad to reach the ending. One positive area is the author’s expertise on the medical examiner side, as the level of detail into that aspect was cool to see; I just wish it also spread to other places in the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

sighitsbri's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence

london_michele's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

It’s a mediocre book. I’m a fan of the pod but this didn’t do it for me. I’ll chock it up to first book blues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

vj_thompson's review

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

A good start to the series. Also a good debut novel. I picked up this book because I listen to the “Morbid” podcast. Alaina is an amazing storyteller, and it really shows in her writing. This book is very plot and information heavy. I wish there were more details about the characters. I am excited to the next book in the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content and Stalking

Minor: Vomit and Death of parent

spirelle's review

dark 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Kidnapping