Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

21 reviews

plswaitaminute's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment

basil_blastname's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma

5aru's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

The story was beautifully crafted; you could understand what the truth was, not because it was a predictable twist but because it was properly foregrounded. Effy and Preston were likeable protagonists, though the development of the romance felt a little lacking for my taste. In fact, I think the major problem is that the book should've been longer, or else differently paced: as it is, the last quarter is too packed with information and so it feels like too many things happen at once. If some of the reveals

(especially the Fairy King being real)

happened earlier, the final confrontation would've been better set up and thus more satisfying to lead up into the reveal.

I still enjoyed it immensely, though. I liked the worldbuilding and felt very close to Effy's experiences, particularly one which I'm sure is almost universal (esp. as a woman) — that of finding out your favourite author, in fact, sucks.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexual assault and Medical trauma

reddeddy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

midgereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

It took me an eternity but I finally finished this book and I really liked it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual harassment

emmieanna's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I loved the aesthetic of this book and I really felt as though I were in the world there with them. It is folklore fantasy crossed with light academia and the romance elements were really tasteful, complementing the style and tone of the book. I would love to explore this world further with any future spin-offs or novellas. I do feel as though the Fairy King could have featured more as an antagonist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

justnicole's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War

mooreeg2's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I had a very difficult time getting through this book; I had to put it down part way and then come back to it.  The entire book is a very slow progression and it doesn't really start to pick up until you're at least 2/3 of the way through, which was really difficult for me as a reader. 

The main female character went through a lot of ups and downs and alludes to some events that happened before the book starts and how those events are influencing her now. She definitely had some growth throughout the book and I'm very glad by the last couple chapters The author did clear everything up so you got a better picture of what happened prior to the start of the book.

The main male character didn't have a lot of growth but I enjoyed his character. He added a little something different to the story and definitely had a different view on women than the other male characters of their time.

I started reading this with the actual book and then part way through I switched it to the audible. I definitely found it more enjoyable with audible, hearing their voices helps pick up the pace of the book a little bit.

There is nothing to graphic, but there is more than one references of assault by an older man to a younger woman. This whole story takes place in a time. Where women don't have as many rights and are viewed lesser than men.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

Minor: Addiction, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

amandaaahyde's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Another book devoured in a day. I couldn't put it down and it has lingered in my dreams. 

"I was a woman when it was convenient to blame me, and a girl when they wanted to use me."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria

Minor: Medical trauma

It's never explicitly stated, but the main character struggles with PTSD

kiwij96's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I was excited to read this book as it featured a lot of words in my country's language and that's always a winner for me, especially when places like Lake Bala (Llyn Tegid in North Wales) and Saltney (definitely not based on the town in North Wales) are mentioned in the book. And Caer-Isel was an interesting University town name too for me as it translates to Hell Fort.

The book was only okay in comparison, the majority of it was long drawn out internal conflicts and all the characters were unlikeable. I also do not love books where the FMC is described as beautiful by literally every male character (main or otherwise), nor do I love books where the two characters say they love each other after knowing each other for 2 weeks. And for a book following two scholars, neither of them seemingly did any work. Or rather Effy seemed to do all of Preston's work while he had nervous breakdowns.

Don't get me wrong though, the book raised some important points about women's stories being erased and their voices never being heard. And I really appreciated the way that it ended. However, for 280 pages of Effy's internal conflict and the characters barely attempting to put the pieces of their puzzle together, the last 90 pages felt like the story could have been so much shorter.

From a Welsh person's perspective, the fact the house was called Hiraeth was a nice touch. "Hiraeth" being the feeling of homesickness or longing for a homeland you can never return to (a word meant specifically for the people of Wales). That was a constant foreshadowing in the story and one which I enjoyed very much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Child death, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Abandonment