Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Matéria Escura by Blake Crouch

14 reviews

boop123's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Drug use, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, Torture, and Car accident

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

sarzwhit's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

What would you do if you were forced out of your own reality and thrown into several other realities of paths you had not taken (or were simply lucky to avoid based on other decisions in your life)...all the while several alternate versions of yourselves were experiencing the same thing? Could you get back to your original life? And what if several other versions of you believed that life belonged to them?
A mind-bending, gripping journey that had me hooked. I couldn't wait to see how it was going to end but I also didn't want it to!

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Kidnapping, Stalking, Torture, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Drug use, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Apart from the kidnapping that occurs that kicks off the major plot of this story, most of these triggers are either briefly mentioned or the protagonist sees the aftermath of what he has assumed to these people. Most of the time does not go into great detail apart from acknowledgement they look to have suffered/are suffering. Most graphic comes near the conclusion, during an alternate universe where there is a pandemic - the effects of the disease go into a little more detail, and some of the injuries one or 2 of these alternate Jason's have suffered.

eatingbrains's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.75

The good:  I enjoyed the UberChat.  I felt that right when that was introduced a different ending could have spawned that turned into a lighthearted rom-com and I like to imagine that.

The bad:  I knew pretty early on that this was not going to be a favorite.  I don't read a lot of thrillers in general but I enjoy sci-fi so I figured I would give it a shot.  I couldn't stand the main character.  And thus, the book was doomed in my eyes.  The pacing was jumpy, and the plot was predictable (as in, I guessed what really happened in the first chapter and the main character didn't figure it out until the ~50% mark).  There was some promise for some thoughtful introspection but the approach was heavy-handed at best.  Some of the descriptions were vivid and others were flat out whacky.

I don't know if I will try another book by the author, but I don't think I was the intended audience for this work so who knows what the future holds.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Torture, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Self harm, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexism, Violence, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Infidelity, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

katiefurms's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Not only is this an incredible concept for a story, but it is so phenomenally well written that i could not put it down. Absolutely incredible book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Murder

Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Addiction, Body horror, Car accident, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Medical content, Pregnancy, Vomit, Dysphoria, Gore, Suicide, and Violence

louisallama's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Murder, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Stalking, Torture, and Violence

s1effe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence

Moderate: Torture

bywayof's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Drug use

Minor: Medical content, War, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Torture

mainjane's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Stalking

Moderate: Death, Torture, Gun violence, and Sexual content

nadiaherondale's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.75

I don't even know what I read, and although the start was a bit slow and I was wary because even though I loved the Wayward Pines TV Show I had struggled trying to read the books I ended up loving whatever this thing that blew my mind and it's gonna give me nightmares and existential dread for weeks was. PS: Amanda you deserve the world. 4'75/5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Stalking, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Forced institutionalization

efratmaor's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Death

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Grief

Minor: Child death, Stalking, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, and Medical content