Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

5 reviews

suzanneloving's review against another edition

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4.5

The italics killed me but otherwise a fascinating tale! Got a bit eye-roll-y at one part of very common trope. But, yeah, good read!
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idroplungs's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

This book sat on my shelf being judged for it's cover and the short synopsis on it for far too long while I wondered what drew me to it in the first place. But when I finally gave it it's chance I regretted taking so long almost immediately.
The book sweeps you away pretty quickly, bringing up questions and hypotheses in just the first few chapters that dont pay off until the final pages (I was worried too much was going on so far in, and learning it was a series that it would all be pushed along, but the author rewards you, don't worry). I also have a talent for predicting twists and was sure I had this right away, I didn't and love the book all the more for it. 
The humor was well spread out and felt more as a natural evolution and enhancement to the story than something forced upon the reader. It's a book that can be funny, not an every page has to have a dozen punchlines funny book, which while are fun in their own right, are not generally my cup of tea (I love you anyway Adams and Pratchett).
I highly recommend The Rook for anyone who wants some mystery, some spy craft, intense (and unique) fight scenes, and equally unique super powers.
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jessicakornelsen's review against another edition

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

4.25

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itsnotalakeitsanocean's review against another edition

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

2.75

I DNF this book ages before this site was even a thing and decided to pick it up again because I was on a paranormal fiction kick after playing Remedy Entertainment's Control (which you should definitely experience in some form or another if you've read this book).

Long story short: this book is a huge disappointment with tantalisingly good bits hidden like needles in a haystack, and could have benefitted from being shorter.

Things I liked:
  • I liked the contrast between Myfanwy before and after losing her memory. I can see why it would be a point of contention for some people, but I felt like it fit the fact
    Pre-Amnesia!Myfanwy did snoop around Chequy's finances, but lacked the confidence and was too marginalised by her peers to take the initiative. Her losing her memories gave her the push she needed to get the ball rolling in my opinion.
  • Chequy felt like a believable organisation. I enjoyed reading how they conducted operations, the efforts they went to cover up paranormal events
    and you could feel how heavy the consequences of several of its members turning traitor were as a result.
  • The action/horror sequences are well written.
    The flesh cube in the police station bit really made my skin crawl.
     

Things I did not like:
  • It was pretty blatant at times that the author was a cishet man writing women, almost bordering on "breasting boobily" esque descriptions at times, and it felt overly catty.
  • I struggled to suspend my disbelief during Pre-Amnesia!Myfanwy's letters to her Post-Amnesia self; specifically the fact she would be able to accurately recall every single word in all of the conversations she had. Eye for detail or not, there are some things you are just not going to remember.
  • Several of the background characters feel like caricatures that are just there to fulfill a role, but at the same time if those characters didn't exist their absence would be noticeable. An example being a bodyguard for Myfanwy late into the book who is Scottish-Japanese who dies not a chapter after he is introduced, and the best I can remember about him was the author's dodgy description about how he cussed up a storm of a mixed slur Japanese and Gaelic.
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amiegold's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

One of my favorite books on all time.  Has a great audible narration I have listened to again and again.  This book is like my security blanket - if I am in a rut, I will listen to or read this book to regroup and get back into reading again.  
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