Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy

95 reviews

bmbriar's review against another edition

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

3.0

I heard "queer nun detective" and said "give it to me" but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I anticipated. The homage to Chandler-esque mysteries almost veers past homage and into parody. Sister Holiday is a character I know I would like under other circumstances, but her narration is so indulgent and over-written that I was not able to be submerged in the character and the story. 

I did enjoy Holiday's relationship with Riveaux, and the overall plotting picks up towards the end, but the ending nonetheless felt rushed, with characters' attitudes towards each other turning on a dime.
I also called the murderer/arsonist early on, not because of breadcrumbed evidence (the main case-solving clue was presented right at the end of the book), but because she was the only character that Sister Holiday didn't suspect for a moment, thus making my correct call much less satisfying.
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mlovesbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

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alisonclane's review against another edition

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

3.5

I really loved the premise of this book: lesbian, tattooed, rock-and-roll nun solves an arson in her New Orleans convent school. I was sold. And this book delivered a memorable main character in Sister Holiday and her array of fellow nuns, as well as a vibrant, mystical and lyrical depiction of New Orleans. I was ready to give it four or five stars - but the last third of the book just didn't deliver. The villain came out of nowhere and simply felt unjustified, traumatic scenes felt like unnecessary additions to the overall plot, and the ending left me unsatisfied. It's a shame, because I adored the tone, setting and characters in the book! 
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harpoonholly's review against another edition

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There is content that I couldn't get past, that disturbed my experience. What started a NoLa teacozy murder, took a swift dive into themes I just was not prepared for, which is my fault for not researching more thoroughly before downloading it (audiobook read by Mara Wilson, who is an excellent reader), but shouldn't a reader be able to look at a standard back cover and some reviews and have that be enough? Who wants homework? Trigger Warnings aren't going to hurt the story, I promise you.
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jlothian's review against another edition

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

4.0

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sophie_63's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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mar's review against another edition

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should've checked the content warnings on this one 
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joannalouise's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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styx_the_gremlin's review against another edition

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

3.5

The characters were well-written and compelling, and the writing vastly improved towards the end of the book. It's a bit cliché (whaaat, a sleuth with a bunch of personal problems and ex-alcoholic), and the ending mostly forseeable. There's too much prose in the wrong places, while some important scenes are skipped over, and the entire plot is a bit convenient. But the interpersonal relationships the books dive into make up for it a bit, and were a lot more intriguing than the actual story. 
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ahart_4's review against another edition

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It felt like the author was trying to be poetic (I’m aware her past works are poetry) but it just felt like it didn’t fit the vibe of this book. As I read it felt like she was trying to write something profound. Though, I did like the concept of the main character. 
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