Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

6 reviews

erikagibson126's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Child death, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and War

jaedia's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Classism, and Confinement

Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Child death, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Vomit

Minor: Grief, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Suicidal thoughts

eni_iilorak'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Interesting concept of an unusual magical world. Not only the magic system but also the society with its complex mechanisms of privilege are well thought out. Thinking through the details of a complex society is Naomi Novik's strength.

Writing emotions is not. 
A first-person narrator with little interest in other people is a baffling  and unfortunate choice. As a result, most of the other characters are completely forgettable. As the protagonist rarely talks to anyone, there is very little dialogue. The narrator takes us through the details of this fictional world. Very little is shown or discovered, almost everything is explained. Large parts of the book read less like a novel and more like an essay that outlines the rules of its universe. This style of writing left me detached from the story and characters.

I'm not sure I would have finished the book if it hadn't been for the excellent audiobook narration.

With one single sentence, the very last one in the book, Naomi Novik made me want to read the sequel, and I don't know if I am impressed or angry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Classism, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Medical content, Racism, and Vomit

Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, and Pregnancy

cgn's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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

5.0

Wow. I haven’t had such a strong five-star in ages. This book fed me energy. I took several moments to breathe and just process the emotions running through me. It gave all the delicious tension and reward I want from both the plot and the characters, and I can’t wait to see where both go next. I was only 15% into the book when I put the sequel on hold, and I’m so grateful for past-me. I’m already thinking about buying the book and re-reading it, especially to catch all the social commentary I missed the first time around. What a blessing of an experience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Violence, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Murder, and Medical content

Minor: Pregnancy

cakeylu's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Vomit, and Body horror

Moderate: Grief, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Confinement

Minor: Alcohol and Mental illness

emmahe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Medical content, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Death of parent