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tarasoraptor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Will come back to review in more detail if I can.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Alcohol, Classism, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Incest, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Drug use, Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexism, Self harm, Terminal illness, Cursing, Death, Police brutality, Murder, Rape, and Sexual harassment
rockinrodriguez's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thought this would be a fun mystery that was about a cool lesbian nun that shows how *cool* Catholicism is but turns out religious people have and always will be a certain kind of weird
I never knew the turns this book would take and loved how ridiculous it was. You’re telling me that she
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia and Terminal illness
runningonwords415's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Medical content, and Animal death
julianairving's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, and Death of parent
ermw0's review
- 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
3.75
Again, we are told that Sister Holiday knows her stuff and is effective. Even the actual investigators somewhat trust her. But I can see why they don't really, she's not very good at it.
Prince Dempsey - I don't even know where to begin with this character. His entire lawsuit and plot was dropped, so we have no resolution with that. I was annoyed with this since Sister Holliday spent so much time obsessing over him as a suspect. And then his random trial for a different crime (and car chase lol) felt like Prince was going to be a big player, but he was also duped by Sister Holiday and just a traumatized boy lashing out.
Rosemary - was a background character with slight tinges of suspicion but then veers suddenly into a "are we about to kiss rn" scenes with Sister Holiday? This felt shoehorned in, I wish they did more with her.
Nina - she didn't need to come to New Orleans at all. I actually liked her better as a memory, because the effect on Sister Holiday was so much more potent! Then you bring this character back for a tiny scene of zero consequence that could be removed from the book with no changes. Wish they kept her in the past.
Bernard - he was giving off a little creepy vibes towards the end by copying SH's neckerchief and getting the Judith tattoo and insisting SH get one too. It felt like this was building to something, but he's just there.
Sister Augustine - so she is the one who was setting the fires, accidentally killed John but did kill Sister T. I do not understand her motives at all and was confused and underwhelmed that she was the perpetrator? And then SH just lets her go? And then Sister Augustine accidentally (after trying to purposefully) lights herself on fire and dies? What? That ending was wild (not in a good way.)
There's so much more about this book I could write. I'm not sure if having this much to say and somewhat critique means I didn't enjoy the book, or I cared so much I wanted it to be as great as it can be. The book's interpretation on religion, especially as it applies to a queer woman, is very interesting and refreshing. I loved Sister Holiday as a character, I haven't read anyone like her before. I will definitely follow this series but I hope the sequel tightens up or at least continues the threads that were dropped off here.
Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, Death, Addiction, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Grief, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Terminal illness, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Pregnancy, and Adult/minor relationship
iasmy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
The mystery is very cliché, and the characters are one-dimensional. The thought that enrages me throughout the book is the glorification of being in pain and suffering. Her fetish, because I am sure that our protagonist is at least partially into BDSM, is used to justify abusing kids.
Two of the more memorable incidents are making kids practice guitar until their fingers hurt so much that they complained to the principal. Even our masochist mother superior decided she went too far and punished her. The punishment was in fact enjoyed by our protagonist, who lamented that one of the kids who went to the principal was anonymous. I wonder why, since our protagonist is so nice and caring toward disabled kids and not at all ill equipped to dialog with them and out to get them.
Our lovely nun also beats a disabled foster kid to encourage him to tell the truth, and when he, rightfully so, wants to tell on her, she responds that nobody would believe him. I wonder why foster kids can’t get out of the system. Not to talk about the double standard, she was way gentler with the kid who has a family, was actually present during the first incident, and had bigger secrets. I wonder why that is.
The constant mention of pain and suffering as a good thing, backed up by church talk, was infuriating but not surprising, and the author seemed tune-deaf as to the consequences of her words. Our sadomasochistic protagonist should have gone to therapy instead of becoming a nun; she would also have learned to explore that part of her personality in a safe way without taking it on the kids.
What enrages me
Graphic: Violence and Religious bigotry
Minor: Police brutality, Homophobia, and Animal death
lyshbish's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Homophobia, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Drug use, Murder, and Religious bigotry
cheeseplant111's review
- 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
genuinely so intriguing loved the story and the prose
only complaint is that the end felt rushed and if it was missing something, could’ve been a bit longer i felt. somethings didn’t get resolved
however i loved it def would read more
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape, Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, and Infidelity
bmbriar's review
- 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 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.
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Animal death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Suicide, Rape, Pedophilia, and Incest
mlovesbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Police brutality, Rape, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Animal death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Outing
Minor: Forced institutionalization