Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry

23 reviews

peeshpish's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

priscillarobock'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

unicornofblue's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Rape

bcsylve's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

strawbeb's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This book was simultaneously NOT what I thought it'd be, and EXACTLY what I thought it'd be. As soon as I heard the premise and saw a few snippets, I was "hooked". And while I did have a fantastic time, maybe I set the bar too high?

Christina Henry is an addictive writer. Whether I was in love with what I was reading, or if I felt it was lacking, regardless I always turned the page. And I ended up finishing the entire book in two days (would've been one, but it arrived in the mail late in the evening.)

On "one hand", Lost Boy accomplishes exactly what it promises. It's a dark twisted version of the original tale. Heroes are the villains, and villains are the heroes. There is A LOT of death, blood, violence, psychological abuse, and then some. And none of it feels gratuitous. There's always a narrative purpose for the dark deeds that are done. Christina Henry writes "darkness" excellently.

Alongside this, the plot is intense and keeps you engaged.

One of the most compelling elements is that you know Jamie/Hook and Peter will survive at the end. They must or else there'd be no story. Because you know this, and you know Henry knows this, the curious and shocking ways she writes the "in between" is made all the more impactful. There are fates worse than death.

On the "other hook", there were flaws I noticed. For one, while Jamie is an endearing character that you can't help but root for, at times he felt a bit like a Gary Stu. Perfect and amazing at everything, with everyone looking up to him all the time, and complimenting him at practically every turn.

There's even a surprise female character, and of course her and Jamie have a romance. Because Jamie has both brains, brawn, and now "the girl".

The pacing also felt disjointed at times. Peter wastes nearly five (5) ENTIRE pages going on about a story about a crocodile. I did understand the significance of the tale, but I truly doubt it needed that many pages and details to get across. This was the worst time the pacing felt terribly slow.

But towards the later half of the story, a vital character suddenly switches sides. It's incredibly abrupt and feels like it comes out of nowhere. And then, barely even 3 pages later, the character returns back to their original side again. It felt like this might've been a scene Henry brainstormed early into production, then got further into writing only to realize she couldn't fit it in, but out of sheer determination, crammed the scene into the plot anyways.

All in all, the book definitely has flaws and is far from perfect. But what it does well, it does really well and it will keep you on the edge of your seat regardless of what chapter you're on. Flaws aside, I do wish Christina Henry would return to this world and these characters again. For a sequel sounds like it would be a wonderfully grand adventure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Terminal illness, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and War

Warning to readers that have arachnophobia.

There are creatures in the book that are basically Giant Sp*ders. The descriptions of them are disgusting. They aren't focused on TOO heavily, but they do get time in the spotlight throughout the book.

Several mentions, but fortunately only two major encounters.

tarynmyheart's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

If you liked Lord of the Flies and Peter Pan + want an easy/quick read, this is it. Can be graphic at times.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

josoko's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense

• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Torture, and Gaslighting

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

mercydesy's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

This book gives you a whole new perspective of peter pan and his lost boys and it's truly enjoyable to read.

The beginning started of really slow and reading through the first half of the book was a bit of a pain, because nothing important really happend and the book didn't really get to the point. Many scenes were way too long and could be shortend a bit.

I loved Jamies development! His anger and annoyance for Peter were pretty obvious since the beginning.

Despite that, you could clearly feel the pain that boy went through and the moment he fell completly out of love with Peter and finally started to act like that and  to grow into an adult 

The book was brutally written and at some points it was repulsive and disgusting to read if you keep in mind that 8-12 year old boys did those gruesome things like slaughtering others without a bit of mercy. This writing made the book really thrilling and fascinating for me. It was very gripping at the second half of the book because of the fast pace and hoping that your favorite side characters do not brutally die like most of the others. 
The fast pace at the end made it also very enjoyable to read and even though we know the ending of the book since the beginning, there are many small plottwists and turns that keep you occupied.

All in all I would recommend this book and encourage to keep reading even if the first half is a bit slow, it is  worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Alcohol

aparker89's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense 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

5.0

If you ever wondered how Captain Hook came to hate Peter so much, this retelling from Jaime's perspective is it! This heart-wrenching, gut punching story will literally leave you shocked and joining in his hatred! 
Peter isn't like other boys, maybe he isn't even a boy at all. Peter's idea of fun and happiness involves blood, raiding, pillaging, narrow escapes and tossing aside anyone who gets in his way- except Jaime. Jaime is special, he is the first, but he isn't up to Peter's antics anymore and that is the adventure we witness. The devolvement of friendship, the falling of the curtain of childhood and above all, discovering what the monsters really are on the island. 
Be prepared to audibly gasp, shake your head and cry for the boys who are forever lost. This book shakes the very foundations of Neverland. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

rosenau's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death