Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

28 reviews

ehhmly's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

kilianisreading's review against another edition

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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

borrelvissie's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad 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

4.0

Wow. What a great book, delving into the darkest places of the human psychology.
It took me quite a while to read this— it's heavy, in a way, you can tell that Harris thought everything through carefully. Knowing who the killer was since (nearly) the beginning made it better, seeing things from his twisted mind.. Then suddenly, you get thrown years into the past,

seeing Dolarhyde's childhood.

It left me conflicted.

The entire book I hated Dolarhyde, was disgusted by him, then I find out there's more to him than first meets the eye. It's sad, really, how trapped Dolarhyde was in the end. Not wanting to hurt Reba, but being forced to anyway by the Dragon. He must have felt powerless.

I did not see that last plottwist coming, at all.

I thought Graham was hallucinating at first, perhaps as a reaction to trauma. Then I realised, he's not hallucinating, Dolarhyde's really there, and he's alive.

Very pleasantly surprised by this book. Hats off to you, Mr Harris!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

greenan26's review against another edition

challenging dark lighthearted tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

Minor: Drug use

monicaa_d's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Viscerally disturbing.

Enjoyability  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Impact ⭐⭐⭐

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

thursdd4y's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

2.75

why does Hannibal Lector, the superior of the killers, simply not eat the bad nasty killers for his twin flame Will Graham

okay but actually, the tooth fairy as a killer is lame and I hate him. The book could have used wayyy more Lector, he’s more interesting. Anyways #justiceforReba

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, and Abandonment

heather_harrison's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.25

This book has left me with the controversial question once again - is the book actually better than the move? This time I'm not sure. 

I enjoyed how the backstory for Francis Dolarhyde was teased out, and his bizarre relationships. I would have certainly enjoyed a bit more of the infamous Hannibal Lecter. His cat and mouse relationship with "retired" FBI profiler Will Graham was exceptionally interesting. 

I kept finding myself pulled out of the story with the blantant sexism... Every woman that appears anywhere in the story described in terms of her beauty and it was honestly just annoying. It was weird that Graham would focus on woman when the families are all targeted by the Tooth Fairy, and the idea that he picked the families based on the woman did turn out to be completely unfounded. There were so many moments were our protagonist, our seeming knight in shining armor, just did not pass the vibe check. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

georgiaaa's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cannibalism, and Alcohol

callant's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Murder