Reviews tagging 'Death'

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

97 reviews

moxjkar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A coachload of junior high school students are kidnapped off a 'school trip', their teacher is killed, & they are taken to a deserted island. There they are told that they are this year's 'Battle Royale' & they have to kill each other until just one is left alive. The students will be given backpacks with limited supplies, there is no way off the island, & phones will not work. Add to this, they have metal bands around their necks that if they try to remove them or they are caught in a prohibited zone, it will explode killing them instantly. The students each face a choice: should they try to band together & figure a way out, or play the game & hope to be the winner?

This is an action-packed read but somehow it doesn't seem that fast-paced. I'm not sure if it is because it is a translation from the original, but it seemed a little stilted in style, but it was still very readable. There are a staggering 46 deaths in this books - most of them students. - & it's interesting to see the shifting loyalties of those who try to band together versus those who start playing the game straight away.

Some of it did seem a little contrived: the backpacks were supposed to have been given out randomly & yet the obvious psychopath received a machine gun whilst the others had weapons ranging from handguns, & boomerangs, to flick knives. Seems rather one-sided. Perhaps that is the point? It has been suggested that this was a precursor to 'The Hunger Games' & I can certainly see where certain elements are similar. I would say this one slightly edges it on brutality & stone-cold killing. Definitely worth reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape

day_m18's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

acuenlu's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Murder

valexander15's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Murder, and War

fancy_cherry's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

richardlvargas's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

One of the best, most intense thrillers - perfect for fans of The Hunger Games who desire something more. It's so dark and you get invested in this entire class of students.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Mass/school shootings, and Abandonment

silentcode's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Rape and Sexual content

capitan's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lady_bountiful's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism