Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

43 reviews

vikkiph's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Torture, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Violence, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking

Moderate: Dementia and Cancer

nattygsmith's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This latest book in the Strike & Ellacott series follows the trend of the previous novels. It capitalizes on the protagonists' strongly established charismatic personalities, and Robin and Cormoran's deep friendship and will-they/won't they romantic tension. The plot, driven by a disturbing cult and its myriad villains and victims, did not feel terribly original, but it was intensely gripping. As always, Galbraith struck a perfect balance between hints and clues that made it feel possible I might figure it out before reading it, and a final reveal that made me feel both observant and surprised.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

ksilvio's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, Murder, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Alcohol, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Stalking

Moderate: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Blood, Grief, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Trafficking

suzreckmeyer's review

dark mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child death, Torture, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Stalking, Gun violence, and Miscarriage

Minor: Gaslighting

antidietleah's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Rape, Death of parent, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Trafficking, Blood, Torture, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Murder, Dementia, Death, Child death, and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer

kimew2023's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

A long book, but holds your interest and is gripping all the way.
The resolution is plausible,  but quite left field.
As ever, the author has terrific control of character and plot consistency.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

erinnichole13's review

dark slow-paced

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

2.0

This book was so. fricking. long! I have no problem with a hefty book if you can pace it well but holy crap, half this book could have been edited out. The epilogue was three chapters! Most people can wrap it up in 1! The whole book gives the impression of someone that just likes to hear themselves talk. The plot had promise but it dragged on under unnecessary pages. The characters are getting a bit tedious and monotonous, not growing much with each book, though the ending suggested maybe next book may be different (though we've read that before). I'd say if you're interested in the relationship drama, save yourself 1000 pages, just read the  very last chapter and hope someone reigns Rowlings in for the next book

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Abortion, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Child death, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Confinement

sophiawollenteit's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

hexagon9067's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Physical abuse, Suicide, Homophobia, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Trafficking, Slavery, Infidelity, Death, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Cancer, Child death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Murder, Incest, Gaslighting, Confinement, Child abuse, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse

worldwidewebb's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.25

There is no reason this book needed to be 945 pages.

Inconsistently written to the extent that I suspect Rowling/Galbraith  used a ghostwriter for some or all of the writing. Certainly the editors were less involved in this one. Some of the book (particularly the later sections) read well, but several chapters were written as if it was Assignment 2 in Writers 101. Run-on sentences, repetition of words, the godawful use of synonyms to "said"... I can't exaggerate the number of times I physically rolled my eyes.

Not going to bother to flag spoilers because genuinely the plot is not worth spoiling. It's like someone read the Wikipedia page for cult/Charles Manson and decided to write 1000 pages on it. Lucky Robin can think her way out of every situation and is also very hot and everyone loves her!

Re: Robin and Strike, the whole reason I'm still plodding through these books - also no spoilers because there's nothing to spoil. Clearly Rowling/Galbraith know why people actually read these books and it ain't for the plot. Strike undergoes some slight character development this time around, I'll grant you, but most of it has to do with fish.

Will I read the next one? Probably. Will I complain about it? Absolutely. My arms literally hurt from holding this brick for the one million hours it took to read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Violence