Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

After the Fire by Will Hill

8 reviews

rory18's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Antisemitism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Violence, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Child death, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

Minor: Incest

iwillendyouinc's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

sakisreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

I was recommended this by two friends (one of whom doesn’t usually read much but was hooked by this), so I had to give it a go. It’s dark and deep and definitely needs a trigger warning (which I’ll put in the content warnings below), but is a page turner too. Moonbeam, the protagonist, is a brave and brilliant person. She had such candour that I couldn’t wrap my head around! 🥲

Her killing Father John was also kind of iconic, I’m sorry…

I am definitely recommending this to friends who want to read something emotionally draining and hopeful simultaneously!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Murder, and Self harm

bandysbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

Moonbeam has recently escaped what was a bloody massacre on the compound of the cult she grew up in. She’s haunted not only by the deaths, but some deeply buried secrets as well. This book explores her experiences within the cult and her trauma after the cult has been broken up.

I liked how this book utilized flashbacks as the character narrating her story to her doctor. It flowed pretty well and was easy to keep track of. 

I also like how we see the progression of thoughts in Moonbeams mind as different things occur. She doesn’t wake up one morning and simply feel a certain way. She develops thoughts and feelings over periods of time. It made her come across as thoughtful instead of impulsive.

Also, this cult was so creepy! I know it was based off of the Branch Davidians and Waco Texas, but i thought the author did a good job of distinguishing the cult in his writing from its inspiration.  

All in all, an interesting and moving read. A bit predictable at points, but still good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship

ghosty_mushroom's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Cursing, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Death

Minor: Cannibalism

quinn24's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse

countingsheep's review

dark emotional sad 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

5.0

I thought this book was really good, but it is a little heavy. I mean it is about a girl who was in a cult. I liked the way it would switch from things that happened before the fire to things that happened afterward and slowly piece together the story until you finally get the big picture. You can tell that the author put a lot of time and research into writing this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Cancer and Rape

sophieduncan's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Genocide

Brainwashing, Cults