Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

La nona casa by Leigh Bardugo

37 reviews

egurgens's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious reflective 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

5.0

I am now in desperate need of book two. I listened to the audiobook, so when I saw 30 min left, I assumed there was more story. Nope. There was an author interview, so I was left on an unexpected cliffhanger. However, this story is so interesting, that I had no issues paying attention and keeping up with what was happening. There are two points of view, there are 3 different time frames, and is just so good! I can imagine that the time skips would be confusing to some, but the book is complicated and interesting enough to keep the reader engaged. When I began the book, I didn't realize it was part of a series, so its safe to say my heart broke when the book ended, but the story continued.

 I definitely recommend reading this book, but be warned there are several difficult topics. Drug use, sexual assault, graphic death, bullying, and more. However, the cast of characters is pretty diverse; not perfect, but definitely better than other books I have read. The magic is pretty realistic, as its use is modern, and takes place in the modern world. No hidden world, just a secret society of magic users, that can use it for good or bad. 

So many plot twists, you end up hanging onto every word. Friends are enemies, enemies are your greatest allies. No one is who you think they are. Bardugo does POV and time changes well, as each is labelled at the beginning of the chapter. Highly recommend reading this book. Realistic fantasy, secret societies, magic, ghosts, monsters, just so many good things. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

kingsteph's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Cancer and Antisemitism

hannahlberg's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

undertheteacup's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Self harm, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Cancer, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Alcohol

crowfolio's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, and Colonisation

Extreme trauma is a fundamental aspect of the main character's backstory and is explicitly brought up several times throughout the book. This trauma is complex and involves sexual abuse as a minor, severe and life threatening substance abuse, abusive relationships and living situations, and a whole lot of other heavy topics. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone in a fragile state of mind who can be easily triggered by any of those subjects or closely related subjects.

meganlilyflower's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. It is a very dark and intense read but it was captivating and all-encompassing. The audiobook was wonderful and I really have no complaints about the reading or the pacing (although I sped through it at 1.5 or 1.75 speed because I wanted more of the plot so some moments may be slow reading traditionally or normal speed audiobook). I recommend reading the trigger warnings for the novel just to make sure you are in a safe place when sitting down to read. 

I noted the diversity as "it's complicated" because of a lack of the diversity of the characters being at the forefront of this story. I didn't even realize our police character was POC until halfway through the book and the culture of Alex wasn't on display at all. 

My favorite part of the book was when we still had the dual timeline and I wish we had gotten more of Darling's POV throughout the book even if it was always a prior timeline, it could've been sprinkled in more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Cancer

This book is very very dark and intense which can be very triggering.

ashrae's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Blood, Excrement, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, and Violence

Minor: Cancer