Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

11 reviews

baconbit95's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Gaslighting

ecombs's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

2.5

The story started off a little slow, but picked up towards the middle so I had hope for it. The ending was extremely lacking. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, and Gaslighting

typedtruths's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.25

major flop. one of the most underwhelming mysteries i have ever read. not a shred of atmosphere or entertainment. i was most invested in maya reconnecting with her heritage and dealing with her trauma. and the twist? laughable

▷ Representation: Maya (mc) is Guatemalan-American and has insomnia and substance addictions.

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness

➸ Trigger warnings for psychological domestic and child abuse mentioned, alcoholism and substance addiction discussed, insomnia and nightmares, alcohol consumption and abuse, graphic drug use and abuse (recreational and medicinal), a parent with a terminal illness mentioned, emesis, death of a father from gun violence recounted, death of an aunt from an overdose mentioned, murder of a best friend recounted, and loss of autonomy (abuse of hypnotherapy).

ariana3's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I kinda liked this! A murder-mystery thriller that seemed kinda stupid but I was determined to finish it.

A girl's best friend was supposedly murdered right in front of her when they were teens, by her maybe boyfriend. It was always a mystery and she was plagued by it, with family and professionals calling her crazy. Turns out the maybe-boyfriend had used hypnosis to trick/manipulate her and found a way to use it to kill her friend and others. She obviously forgets the tactics (because he hypnotizes her to), but she eventually remembers. The "house in the pines" was never a real place like he said, just him putting the image (along with smells, feels, and tastes) into her brain to lull her into his hypnosis trap. She's justified in the end, so she can move on, though it doesn't have much closure in the way it deals with him (just that an arrest should be coming soon...)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

fkshg8465's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious relaxing sad tense medium-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

4.0

I enjoyed this book more than others. It’s a topic of fascination to myself. Not sure I’d want to explore how possible it is, but it made for an easy read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Gaslighting

erisouls's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

pollyhall's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Grief, and Murder

savheath's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

Minor: Domestic abuse and Death of parent

indydc's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Mental illness and Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

ladyinverse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

very interesting listen!! i was getting a little confused at the back and forth narrative between the past Maya and current Maya, but i assume if i was reading it, i would have caught on sooner.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol