Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

EL FANTASMA DE LA ÓPERA, by Gaston Leroux

35 reviews

jobaji's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I thought this book was pretty interesting! It was told in a cool way, with Leroux assuming the role of a historian or reporter. Some of Erik’s lines were truly spine-chilling, but the themes of nature vs. nurture and showing compassion to those whom most people would turn away from were definitely worthy of further thought. It’s a slow read at the start, but towards the middle the story really starts to pick up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Death of parent

Moderate: Abandonment

alicearaujoms's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Murder

lleer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicide

fishbones's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide

linnylionheart's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Torture, Confinement, Kidnapping, Death, Gaslighting, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Classism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Minor: Child abuse, Misogyny, Blood, and Death of parent

mengzhenreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

You can feel the emotion pouring from every crevice of this book. Definitely different from the musical, but just as original, moving, and dramatic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Torture, Death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

charity_ix's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

My first classic! I was intrigued by the first chapter alone and knew I was going to love this book. The penguin classics edition was also super easy to read and the notes gave me so much insight into the world this book takes place in. I was very invested throughout the book and it was so intense at times. Some parts did feel very long and at times I felt like the pacing was slightly odd, but in the end, it was fine. The epilogue tied everything together for me and it just felt perfect. Erik as a character was written so well and even the descriptions of him gave me chills. Overall, this is the perfect book if you want to start reading classics or if you just want to read a whimsical story of The Paris Opera in the 1800s. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping

smithreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Stalking, Violence, Death of parent, Body horror, Classism, Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, and Racism

proceduralbob's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

allylund9's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

At first I thought it very slow and also perhaps worse than I had expected it to be after seeing the movie and the musical. But now after I’ve finished it I can without a doubt say that I have not read a book this great in years. In one night I finished the ending because I could not tear myself away from it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder