Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

8 reviews

emiliegrace's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Okay this finally did the trick to pull me out of my reading slump. This series is truly quite fun, even though this was slightly more predictable than the first. I really enjoyed the deeper dive into Dean’s character and his childhood, and just how all of that is connected to Cassie and the rest of the Naturals. I knew she’d end up with Dean, but 
my heart kinda hurts for Michael….

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

mikathereviewer's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.0

This time we get a greater spotlight of Dean and his past. We also get betrayal, fights and many other tense and emotional things. And if you like school settings; This one is for you! This book is definitely more tense than the first one. And I would also say that this book is more character focused (and its relationships) than plot focused like we used to have in the first book. 

I really liked how the trauma was depictured in this book and that not everyone deals with it the same.

We have a character who hides its emotions and acts as if everything is fine (suppressing behaviour), one who has flashbacks and bottling its emotions, one that feels left out on everything and like the odd one out, guilt and remorse for something that wasn't in its control, one who can't control its jealousy and feeling abandoned and finally one who feels like a survivor even though it was a victim.

In this book we get lots more character insights and also backstory from those who we missed in the first book. If you couldn't decide yet whether or not you like a character or who your favourite might be, here is your perfect chance to get to know them all and get a picture of them. 

Fortunately we get less romance for this one, which is a relief for me, considering how annoying and just out of the theme/genre it was. Like we were in a crime scene but also had a romantic midlife crisis?? And their fighting also got less, at least in my opinion. The only romance aspect is near the end of this book. 

I wish I could say something good this time about Lia as I already mentioned in my other review that I had mixed feelings about her and that her natural lie detector isn't that much of any use (reasonsed in my other review). But this time she really went too far. Not only did she put words into another character's mouth, but she also didn't accept any apology and never saw herself as the one who acted up. She is so childish to not admit her own wrongdoings but poking at other's. 
(Also the reason I gave why her 'power' is useless turned out to be just as I thought to be a logic hole as she apparently can detect a lie even if the person was a psychopath who couldn't care less to lie)

The part with the whole apprentice thing was SO OBVIOUS. Also that there were more than one in the end, I even joked about this! I also joked that there might as well can be a third one! What is thisssss and why does the author out of now has the same thought pattern as me??? She didn't have that in the first book. But I think the part how Dean had his first own victim was a bit surprising. I mean when Dean said he watched I was already thinking that he was probably forced to also act, but I wasn't that sure and I wasn't sure on whom. It was also obvious with the letters Reading got as he already mentioned this before and the focus was on it anyway before we got our answer. Also what the... it was Webber? I even highlighted that name but was like: He barely got screen time he won't be it. Funny how he is the only surprising plot twist.

Cassie gets treated so unfair that it made me kinda pissed off. She takes the blame for everything, covers for the rest of the group and gets almost only a real punishment than just words and Lia didn't even say thanks and just got mad at her even, like what? Imagine taking all the blame even though none of it was your idea getting punishment and all you get is; It’s embarrassing. Really. If you stay here, you’ll get us all caught.'. She got caught not for the reason Lia even said and for a total different one and no one seemed to care.

The ending was shocking. And then the very very end was so exciting. Aaah finally!! They deserved it so much! 
Also the word 'All In' was already used for this book, so I'm curious to know what the title actually means for the next book in this series.

In case anyone needs this — Here are ALL in real life serial killers mentioned in this book:
1. Charles Manson
2. John Wayne Gacy
3. Ted Bundy
4. Jeffrey Dahmer


This book mentions adult/minor relationship in a sexual way. It is only briefly mentioned (very briefly!) but here is anyway the following chapters that mention it: Chapter 16 (the ending only), chapter 17, chapter 20 (only the ending), chapter 21 page 5-8
There is also other content than this in these chapters so try to just skip the crucial part in these and not the full chapter. 
Also; Each chapter after chapter 16 just repeats the same thing so there is no new info about it. The mention of it is only a few sentences and also quite vaguely. 


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By the way shout-out to my country's famous philospher Nietzsche who was mentioned in this book 😂

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Suicide, Stalking, and Abandonment

sharlapeggy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Liked this book a lot. Didn’t grip me as much as the first but I still really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

wganas4'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death and Physical abuse

rylin_marie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

readwithsophsx's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

kaitlynnnng's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

The first book in this series didn’t hit me the way I’d hoped it would, but I’m so glad I kept reading, because I loved this book! I felt much more connected to the characters, and the storyline was more interesting.

Throughout the story, I thought I knew what was happening, and then something would change my mind, and then I’d be confused, and then the cycle would repeat. In the end, I was so right and so wrong at the same time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment

carsonbailey's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Child death