Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Stromend graf by Robert Galbraith

71 reviews

sauvageloup's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-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

I won't put a star rating as i don't really want to make J.K.'s book look good. But a compelling if somewhat slow read.

pros:
- the cult setting was extremely well done, very frightening and sinister and the traumatic effect on Robin and the others was obvious in their reactions. It definitely made you think about the horrors of cults.
- sadly J.K. is a talented writer and the pacing and characters are very good, with the complicated plot coming together and the characters growing throughout, to a degree.

cons 
- the plot did feel too complicated towards the end as I struggled to keep straight who certain people were, including Graves and Abigail and some others. Would probably reward a reread.
- Strike was a bit annoying in this book, as he seemed naive/careless about the torment Robin went through (which though well addressed as it was happening and immediately after, seemed to be forgotten as the plot came together at the end), his jealousy towards Murphy is tiring, and his lack of action towards Robin gets frustrating.
- J.K. is clearly also making a point about how the law hesitates to go against people for PC reasons and overly tip toeing around sensitive issues, like religious freedom and people living differently. Strike snidely says 'live and let live' to criticise the cult. I think she is doing a subtle dig here towards trans people and their rights.

but overall another compelling Robin and Strike novel, probably the one that gripped me most so far with the scary cult plot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Stalking, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Abortion, Body horror, Medical content, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, and Alcohol

All the content warnings here, very dark.

mountainside_reading's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child death, Suicide, Mental illness, Self harm, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Rape

leukermetjou's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.0

The story is great, I struggled with the author and sometimes with the writing style. But good enough to have me keep reading after bedtime. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Sexual assault, Bullying, Rape, Child abuse, Murder, and Religious bigotry

vikkiph's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Torture, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Violence, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking

Moderate: Dementia and Cancer

ksilvio's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, Murder, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Alcohol, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Stalking

Moderate: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Blood, Grief, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Trafficking

hp62442's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Torture, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, and Suicide

suzreckmeyer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child death, Torture, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Stalking, Gun violence, and Miscarriage

Minor: Gaslighting

antidietleah's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Rape, Death of parent, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Trafficking, Blood, Torture, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Murder, Dementia, Death, Child death, and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer

erinnichole13's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.0

This book was so. fricking. long! I have no problem with a hefty book if you can pace it well but holy crap, half this book could have been edited out. The epilogue was three chapters! Most people can wrap it up in 1! The whole book gives the impression of someone that just likes to hear themselves talk. The plot had promise but it dragged on under unnecessary pages. The characters are getting a bit tedious and monotonous, not growing much with each book, though the ending suggested maybe next book may be different (though we've read that before). I'd say if you're interested in the relationship drama, save yourself 1000 pages, just read the  very last chapter and hope someone reigns Rowlings in for the next book

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Abortion, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Child death, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Confinement

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Grief, Alcoholism, Addiction, Biphobia, Body horror, Gun violence, Suicide, Miscarriage, Self harm, Torture, Trafficking, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, Slavery, Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Excrement, Ableism, Violence, and Bullying

There’s murder, sexual coercion and assault on underaged and of age characters mentioned and suggested. There’s drowning, confinement in tight, restrictive spaces, there’s mental and physical manipulation and torture. There’s hired hit men and lurkers. The plot has to do with a controversial cult that uses a lot of cultural appropriation of Asian religions and philosophies in the cult’s supposed doctrine. There are also scenes and depictions of endangering small children’s welfare. Cult characters assault female characters quite obviously as well. There are characters with mental and physical health problems. There’s suicide and murder. Look at the triggers.