Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

かがみの孤城 by Mizuki Tsujimura, 辻村深月

36 reviews

moonadjacent's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.0

Found family from a bunch of outcasts has got to be one of my favourite tropes in fiction. The heartfelt sincerity with which the kids come to regard each other is so touching to witness evolve. 

I cried for Rion. It was so heartbreaking for him to lose the chance to wish for his sister to come back home.

My only criticism would be that as much as I loved getting to know each character's backstory, the lead up to each discovery became quite formulaic.

Kokoro runs, touches X, views memory, vows to save friend, rinse, repeat. Sort of like a video game, which, meta!

Apart from that small section, I did enjoy the writing style and pace. 

But I must admit I was quite shocked at how the parents didn't just force the kids to go to school to be honest. Personally, the idea that a child could just not go to school for a year was more fantastical

than being eaten by a wolf in a castle accessible by mirror.

Great story though, really enjoyed how all the puzzle pieces came to fit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Cancer

Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Blood, Mental illness, Death, Fatphobia, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

crows_in_a_trenchcoat's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad slow-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Child death, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism

Minor: Death of parent and Fatphobia

atalea's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, and Violence

Minor: Death, Cancer, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Body shaming

sumrose11's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

If this isn’t already a movie, it needs to be!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, and Sexual violence

dananana's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, and Bullying

Moderate: Cancer and Sexual assault

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

ellaisntreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

i was not expecting to cry at the end omg

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child death

Minor: Sexual assault, Cancer, and Suicide attempt

blacksphinx's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Bullying

Moderate: Terminal illness, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Misogyny

Minor: Sexual assault, Car accident, Death of parent, and Medical content

Misogynistic slurs

lauralintunen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Child death, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

paziicrm's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt

kelly_e's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.25

Title: Lonely Castle in the Mirror
Author: Mizuki Tsujimura
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: May 1, 2017

T H R E E • W O R D S

Vivid • Playful • Heartwarming

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Bullied to the point of dropping out of school, Kokoro's days blur together as she hides in her bedroom, unable to face her family or friends. As she spirals into despair, her mirror begins to shine; with a touch, Kokoro is pulled from her lonely life into a resplendent, bizarre fairytale castle guarded by a strange girl in a wolf mask. Six other students have been brought to the castle, and soon this marvelous refuge becomes their playground.

The castle has a hidden room that can grant a single wish, but there are rules to be followed, and breaking them will have dire consequences. As Kokoro and her new acquaintances spend more time in their new sanctuary, they begin to unlock the castle's secrets and, tentatively, each other's.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a book I'd likely never have stumbled upon if not for an online event in my book club. Yet it was also the type of book that reminded me of the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone every now and then. It was one of those books that reminded me of what it means to be human, and that's not something I get everyday.

Written from the perspective of Kokoro, a young girl living with the anxieties of returning to school and dealing with the kids at school, this novel is definitely on the lighter side of the fantasy genre. In my opinion, it veers more in the direction of magical realism, where the reader isn't required to suspend all belief, yet does need to suspend some. It evoked feelings of empathy and compassion for each of the students. I thought the portrayals of the struggles of coming-of-age were very well crafted.

Additionally, I absolutely loved the concept behind this novel. As an avid puzzler, the inclusion of a puzzle aspect was so much fun. This is a story filled with connection, kindness and tackling teenage mental health. I don't think I have ever read something quite like it, but it definitely left me with the comforting feelings similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Overall, I there was definitely a little something that was lost in translation. I can imagine the original Japanese version to be just that extra little bit more powerful. Yet this story really drove home the importance of community and reaching out for help. It would be the type of book I'd recommend to anyone who has ever felt left out and/or alone.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like puzzles
• T.J. Klune fans
• younger readers

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"If you try hard, you will always see results, and it will never be wasted no matter what you end up doing in life."

"She understood the fear. Not knowing what the future would be for her, not knowing how long she’d be like this. Seeing people who were moving on was enough to make her feel an excruciating pain in her chest." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Domestic abuse