Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Blackhouse by Peter May

4 reviews

silkmoth's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

I first read this years ago, but had bought the audiobook in a sale. The narrator was excellent and really brought the island voices to life, and added a layer of depth to the story that isn't accessible when reading a book. 

The story is told through a blend of present day action with extensive flashbacks to the protagonist's childhood and adolescence on the Isle of Lewis. I'm surprised to see reviews saying that the story is sluggish. I found it fast paced and absorbing. I'm looking forward to re-reading the rest of the trilogy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol

ran_sophia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The book is well written and I will definitely read the sequel.  The story is surprising and thrilling until the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Violence

Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

crouteurpro's review against another edition

adventurous tense 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Excrement, and Vomit

julieviiii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Actually very good in terms of plot (the mystery, the murder and what really happened in the main character's childhood were really well told), but I'm not a fan of how women are portrayed in this. 
I loved the plot, the characters, the atmosphere was amazing but women either only have a role of a burden (Artair's mother after her heart attack), a seductress (Marsaili, all of Fin's girlfriends, Donna) or a one dimensional mother figure (Fin's  mother who was barely mentioned or his aunt who was just described as "eccentric and cold").
The men on the other hand were really well written  which makes me think this isn't just how the author writes characters, it's just how he writes women. (I'm hoping the rest of the trilogy isn't as male-based). 
Other than this, I loved everything except the ending which felt flat and easy compared to the rest of the plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Car accident