Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Boys In the Valley by Philip Fracassi

8 reviews

takecoverbooksptbo's review

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

4.25

Despite some misgivings about how Fracassi resolves the conflict between the real-world harms Catholic institutions have inflicted and the spiritual salvation that the religion offers, this book rules. As possession narratives go, you’d be hard pressed to find a book that is paced this well and also finds time to develop characters, mood, and dread. There are some very scary, unsettling moments in this story. I’d highly recommend it if you want an action-packed horror story that will tug at your heart-strings a little bit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child abuse, Suicide, Confinement, Murder, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Self harm, and Grief

samseyz's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Definitely had a slow start, but for me the last 20% completely made up for it. Made me more emotional than I expected it to in the beginning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Murder, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide

kirrarrik's review

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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement, Blood, Death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Gun violence, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Physical abuse, Murder, and Death of parent

purstiltski's review

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Very violent, with a lil philosophy on humanity and good and evil. I really enjoyed the writing and sometimes just stopped to appreciate a good sentence (whether actually pleasant... or visceral and gross). 

"His smile wavers, and for a moment he thinks the boy's face flickers, becomes indistinct, as if covered in gray mold. But then the face returns, and he's just a boy again. Or what was one."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Bullying

kkalicky94's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Murder, and Suicide

bria_and_books's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Murder, Child abuse, and Violence

vynna's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.25

A very enthralling read about a group of child orphans trying to survive the gruesome onslaught of those under demonic possession. The brutality, the fear, and the dread was so palpable throughout and made this simultaneously difficult to read and put down. I think the author does a great job portraying the bleak lives of these characters (the conditions in the orphanage, the abuse from authority) as well as the evil that starts to transform their lives. The creepy smiles and shifting faces of those possessed was very unsettling (but great imagery) and the Lord of the Flies-esque conflict was tense. I think I would have liked to know more about the demons and why they possessed certain children over others (the characters even question it at one point), but it doesn’t really take away from my overall enjoyment. Good scary book that had me invested from start to finish!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Child abuse, Child death, and Violence

voicenextdoor's review

dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, Violence, Confinement, Death of parent, Child abuse, Child death, Religious bigotry, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse