Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

Magpie by Elizabeth Day

120 reviews

megan_bbender's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

My friends call me Magpie so when I saw this book on the shelf I just had to get it. It's not the most amazing book I have ever read but it also isn't the worst. I really enjoyed certain parts of it, but I found that there were lots and lots of filler pages that were very slow and boring to read. 

I feel as if the author does not think the readers are smart enough to figure out the twist on their own which is why there was so much back and forth between the past and present. This is what made the book feel so slow, because you are reading over the same scenario twice. 

After looking up the author, I can appreciate that this book may have a lot more deeper meaning as it possibly reflects some of her personal experiences with marriage and IVF but I personally cannot relate to these issues so there was not a strong connection for me. 

With that being said, the twists and turns were really unexpected and they kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending was a bit predictable but it was still enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Infertility, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

emilydigweed's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Abortion, Rape, and Sexual assault

jemimaskelley's review against another edition

3.0

I was waiting for a second plot twist that never came which kinda made the second half fall flat

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility and Pregnancy

cheekylaydee's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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? Yes

3.25

I managed to finish this one in two days. More twisted than I expected it to be, which is a good thing. The only thing I was a little uncomfortable with was the use of mental illness

to drive the plot forward, which is getting to be an overdone trope, however the author did good by the character towards the end, so in this case it could be forgiven.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child abuse

sianh77's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Really unexpected plot twist, kept me gripped!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Infertility

lka2's review against another edition

mysterious

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility and Mental illness

lizardqueenlazerbeam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Abandonment, Blood, Infertility, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse

iamnita's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This book started so well and the idea was well-done. I could see that we were headed somewhere twisty and then I got surprised by a twist I should have but didn't see coming. By 70% I was so excited by the rest of the book but honestly wish I'd just stopped there. It's almost as if the author dropped the plot and then had a deadline to get to. Which was disappointing. I also could have done without the last chapter. But the vibes were immaculate to 70%.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Violence, Infertility, Stalking, and Confinement

sardinetin's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Infertility

Moderate: Infidelity

chanley_33's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Just when I thought I I understood what was going on, I didn't. Really good story and excellent twist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility