Reviews tagging 'Blood'

After the Fire by Will Hill

6 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

shay_starlessxsea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Well paced, really well written & a book that I just could not put down! I really liked the two timelines (before & after the fire) running side-by-side throughout the book - I thought it was really successfully done and a clever way to drip information to keep you hooked in the story. Moonbeam was a brilliantly rounded character and, although the ending felt a bit abrupt, I thoroughly loved this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Suicide, and Misogyny

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

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