Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Gerald's Game by Stephen King

9 reviews

claireltravers's review against another edition

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Incest, Rape, and Child abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

theimposter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

This book is a beautiful and traumatizing expression of trauma (sexual trauma specifically) and of the mind’s internal family system which Stephen King writes so accurately and in such a personifying way. It was also the most triggering book I’ve ever read and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who is triggered by sexual abuse/rape or anyone who doesn’t want to read gore and body horror. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Death, Incest, Child abuse, Confinement, Torture, Body shaming, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

kreglow's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Blood, Domestic abuse, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Sexism, Confinement, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, and Violence

ansatejones's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

She should have adopted the damn dog at the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Mental illness, Incest, Domestic abuse, Death, Confinement, Cannibalism, Body horror, Blood, Animal death, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Self harm, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

bookishchaos's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Great idea but not great execution. Considering this is a fairly short story, nothing really happened other then flashbacks and subplots. The beginning was very rushed then the middle was EXTREMELY slow. Instead of random flashbacks, we should've learned more about Jessie's past in the beginning and have us readers slowly learn how truly evil her husband was. Stephen King has some way better books to be read, I wouldn't recommend this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Torture

ajg2289's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

1.0

This was my first Stephen King novel and will be my last. He uses the word “cunt” in a really obnoxious way and he seems to be darkly fascinated by children and sexuality and exploiting them in that way. Making up horrific stories and scenarios and describing them in the most dense, pointless way. DO NOT RECOMMEND. 
The twist at the end was laughable and had nothing to do with the story prior the last 40 pages. Terrible.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, and Cursing

hb2249's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This book was overwhelming to say the least. I am usually fine when it comes to reading books with very dark themes, but this was too much for me. When I finished it, I definitely regretted reading it, but thinking on it, it certainly set new boundaries for me when it came to serious topics. If thinking about reading PLEASE read the trigger warnings before, I went into this blind and I kind of regret it. Definitely a book I will only ever read once.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Gore, Domestic abuse, Death, Confinement, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Car accident

This book is forever known as the trauma book to my friends and I. DO NOT read if you have sensitivities to sexual assault, especially between adult and child. This book hits hard and it has graphic details of crimes in it. It heavily details mental trauma and mental illness in the main character.

urrubberducky's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

queer_venus's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Literally made me feel physically sick

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, and Gore

Moderate: Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Medical content