Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Il giardiniere by Natasha Preston

11 reviews

kataya09's review against another edition

1.0

Yeah. I hated this book. Idk if it was the writing, the content, how things went down, etc. I was going to put it down multiple times but that’s my toxic trait, I don’t DNF. I just switched to the audio. That’s the only reason I finished. This was clear not edited well and I’m pretty sure this could have just been taken directly from her wattpad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Mental illness

Moderate: Death, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, Violence, Cursing, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide

abbycohen03's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious sad 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? No

3.75

Every chapter had you glued to the book wanting to read another chapter

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Trafficking, Violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, and Adult/minor relationship

rochelleisreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Violence, Mental illness, Rape, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Confinement, and Suicide

Minor: Stalking and Sexism

katleyn16's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, and Emotional abuse

kristiesbooknook's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Confinement, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, and Torture

taliatalksbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

The Cellar by Natasha Preston was heartbreaking and full of suspense. I don’t find myself to be easily triggered, but even I had moments of severe discomfort while reading this book, so I want to make it very clear that if you’re considering reading it, definitely check out the content warnings before you do. This story is creepy and though it makes an important point to stare on multiple occasions how wrong it is, there is a lot of uncomfortable content here given that our main character is only 16/17 and the man who kidnaps her is in his 30s. I think this content is so unsettling because it isn’t watered down and it isn’t presented to make it palatable. It’s supposed to make you uncomfortable because of how awful the situation is, and it does that almost too well. This book is really fast-paced, and while the timeline gets a little confusing jumping back and forth while chasing perspectives, it was still an enjoyable read. I don’t honk it is my favorite by Preston, but it certainly was a dark, psychological suspense worth reading if you can get past the content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Kidnapping, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Medical content, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Confinement, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Stalking and Suicide

jonesroni638's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder, Death, Stalking, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Gore, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Mental illness, and Sexual assault

kyoto's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

the way i had to try and speed thru this book bc i had to know the ending !!!! it was frustrating and terrifying and i loved it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Gore, Murder, Kidnapping, Torture, Stalking, and Misogyny

alex_kocher's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Suicide

katelyn_readss's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

3.75

this book scared the poop outta me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, and Torture