Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

After the Fire by Will Hill

11 reviews

hollyval2306's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.0

loved the therapy scenes and seeing her heal

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexism

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

dramagirl2003's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I was sucked in by this book right from the very first page! Moonbeam's experience in The Base was horrifying to read! I am so proud of her character development, she is one of the strongest and bravest characters I've ever read about! I was so angry to read all the lies Father John was forcing the members to believe!! 

I was a bit apprehensive about reading this book to begin with, as I was a little worried that the narrative would insinuate that all Christianity is bad. I had nothing to fear, this was strictly an imaginative retelling of the real-life Waco Seige. In fact, the author made a point of saying at the end that the belief structure in The Base was nothing like true Christianity at all. As a Christian myself, I am especially grateful to him for purposefully making that distinction so people aren't confused or misled

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Violence, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Child death, and Torture

Minor: Blood, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Pedophilia, Cancer, and Murder

I almost cried when a character commited suicide. It was very graphic

its_van_vulpen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Child abuse, Abandonment, Blood, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Cancer and Addiction

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

swhence's review

challenging dark reflective sad

2.5

This is not the kind of book I usually read, but when I saw it was listed for half price, I thought, why not? I would say it wasn't worth it but its really a "me issue". I was very entertained for the first half but after that, I was struggling to finish it. The only reason why I finished it is that I really wanted to know how the author wrapped up the ending.

The good parts :
1. The writing : It is very simple and I personally love this kind of writing, because its less distracting.
2. The timeline : The chapters alternate between 'before' and 'after' the fire. I felt it was easier to understand this way, rather a normal timeline.

The 'meh' parts :
1. The premise : I do think its a unique plot but by the second half of the book, I didn't really care for it.
2. The plot : I was able to predict the twists from a mile away.

To sum up, I liked some parts but as a whole, this book was a let down. If you are an avid reader of thrillers, you will probably enjoy it more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Suicide