Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

28 reviews

lilcoppertop's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and War

Minor: Ableism and Homophobia

kellymacbrown's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

While there were aspects of this book that I absolutely adored, overall this book was just okay. 

When I got this from the bookstore it was shelved in fantasy and the blurb on the back did not prepare me for the actual contents (which are more horror leaning). 

I’m okay with some dark elements and some horror. However, I really disliked the parts that alluded to sexual relations between adults and children. That’s a hard nope for me. 

This book addresses how grief/trauma transforms a child into an adult too quickly, stealing something from them in the process. 

The ending was beautiful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Pedophilia and Death of parent

twonky's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Blood

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

mockingjayx16's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, and War

elbell1012's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

definitely one of my favorite books of all time, I always find myself coming back to this book every few year to reread it. Connolly's writing never seems to lose that magic touch <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Death of parent

quillathe_23's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Child death

ambrassy's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual assault

rkazoo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

I’m incapable of reading this and not crying. So many beautiful themes and messages delivered by incredible characters. Ah!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Minor: Misogyny, Excrement, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

queenshrike's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and War

swalk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

A quintessentially English, gothic fairy tale; but if you are expecting a lighthearted fable, this is certainly not it. 

 

Set in 1939 during the war, David is just a 12 year-old boy, his mother is sadly dying. The terrible stress and trauma of this has lead to him trying to prevent her death, by performing tasks in a very obsessive manner and becoming withdrawn. After some time David begins to collapse when he is stressed or angry and his father takes him to see a doctor about it. As his mind spirals David begins hearing the words inside of books come to life, until one day he is consumed by another world entirely; A world filled with fairytale horrors, battles of good and evil, wolves, harpies, knights and a sinister crooked man.
 
 This tale has truly magical world building and a fantastic mix of malevolent and virtuous characters, I loved the the humour of the dwarves and how the story was woven with messages of overcoming grief and a sense of self discovery and growth. Honestly I absolutely adored this book and I even shed a few tears towards the end. Truly excellent.

Nick Rawlingson was an amazing narrator, his character voicing was excellent and really made the audiobook immersive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Homophobia, Blood, and War

Minor: Torture and Death of parent