Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis

14 reviews

itsheyfay's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Child death, Murder, Violence, Abandonment, and Outing

Moderate: Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Confinement, Medical content, Vomit, Classism, Death of parent, and Cancer

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Rape

ecurry's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Child death

dalenora's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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

4.75

WOW! This book was incredible. I felt like I was on an incredible ride start to finish, it was really thrilling and emotionally satisfying as each puzzle piece slipped into place. The story was so real and tangible, and you felt their pain but it was also so incredibly fun with the scooby doo/the turning of the screw type premise. 

The initial premise really reminded me of one of my favorite episodes of the show Psych (premise: a fake psychic is hired to go to a wealthy man’s house and exorcise a fake ghost only to wonder if maybe ghosts exist after all? Meta shenanigans ensue) and that very fun and eye catching premise gave way to an emotional, thoughtful, exciting novel that surprised me at every turn. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child death, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Rape, Outing, and Death of parent

caseythereader's review

dark emotional mysterious 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Lesbophobia, Murder, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Cancer, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Classism, and Medical content

Minor: Rape and Suicide

doomham's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Rape, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism

arealpageturner's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

a good book with no happy ending. It was a lot darker than I anticipated and I would highly encourage looking into trigger warnings before picking up this book

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Murder, and Child abuse

mfallon3491's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia

tofugal's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

With gorgeous prose and a lovely gothic feel, this definitely delivered on its “for fans of Sarah Waters” promise. It felt like a solid blend of Fingersmith and Affinity. Though this was more predictable than Waters’ books, there were still plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing whether the ghosts were real, fake, or some combination of the two. 

 

Sylvie’s perspective held my attention, but I feel like the book truly picked up when it switched over to Charlotte’s perspective, in large part because Florence stole my heart. I really wanted that poor gal to win. 

 

My only criticism is that the ending felt rushed, the final twist was too obvious, and I don’t think the epilogue was needed. 

 

Overall, a very impressive debut. I look forward to reading more from Carmella Lowkis. 

 

CW: For DA, deaths, and mentions of past SA.

 

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

lornography's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This well told gothic fairy tale is a cautionary story of what comes of actions based on appearances.

Set in Paris during the mid-to-late 19th century, we experience love, vengeance and redemption through the eyes of two estranged spiritist sisters. There is Sherlockian mystery combined with Shakespearean tragedy and all the tropes of the Victorian era.

The character development is on point, you care deeply about the focal ladies and their grande plights (with a side of sapphic wooing and cooing that is delightfully coquettish). The settings are portrayed in such detail that they play out during the reading experience as if watching a compelling mind-movie. While more Parisian flair could have possibly added to the book’s supernatural mystique, in all, Spitting Gold is easily a highly recommended novel full of heart-pounding suspense and heart-breaking emotion!

Much appreciation goes out to author, Carmella Lowkis, and Atria Books (Simon & Schuster) for the opportunity to experience Spitting Gold in advance of its May 14th, 2024 release.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Child death, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence, Dementia, Suicide, Homophobia, Sexism, Gore, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Minor: War, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Rape, Colonisation, and Suicide attempt

jamielianne's review against another edition

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? No

2.5

Spitting Gold tells the story of two sisters who pose as spirit mediums and their next mark, a family being haunted by an ancestor. The first half was creepy and atmospheric, and I genuinely had chills down my spine.

However, at the midway point, we have a POV change that details what led to this point and the ultimate outcome. It feels like a complete tonal shift away and I found myself skimming to the end. I absolutely adored the beginning so the ending felt unearned and rushed.

Don't get me wrong, the antagonist gets what they deserve at the end, but the epilogue felt like it was trying to wrap up the storyline, rather than deal with the fallout. Maybe an extra chapter or so could help alleviate the abruptness. 

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Child abuse

Moderate: Homophobia