Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

12 reviews

threeundertwopnw's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? Yes

3.5

I loved the neurodivergent main character and the magic system. I never connected with Augustine, so was uninvested in a main part of the story. Also not my preferred style of horror, relied a lot on body horror.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

illuminatedspace's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jeskian's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

morbidanatomy's review

Go to review page

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

3.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lillianreadsalot's review

Go to review page

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

2.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

laurajones's review

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mo345's review

Go to review page

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

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hanarama's review

Go to review page

dark emotional tense medium-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

3.75

 The Good:
• Intelligent MC
• Eerie setting
• Building tension

The Bad:
• Ending feels odd
• The larger world setting

You Might Like This if You Like:
• Crimson Peak 
• Netflix's The Haunting of Bly Manor and The Haunting of Hill House 

I feel like this book very nearly gave me what I wanted from it. The growing tension was excellent. The ghosts spooky. The secret society gave me Hellfire Club vibes. All this was great. However, I feel like it failed in the payoff and in some of the details outside of the central plot. 

I honestly have no idea why this story takes place in a separate world from our own. The setting is so similar to Victorian England, it feels bizarre that it's not. It's almost distracting to have made up places brought up in a genre that is more commonly set in real world locals. 

The final reveal of the story is okay. It just felt like a bit of a letdown after the events of the book. I expected things to go in a different direction, and despite some minor hints, this wasn't made really clear until very far into the story. 

A highlight of this story though is in the characters. Jane Shoringfield is an excellent character for a Gothic horror. She's smart and practical, making her later transformations all the more jarring. Dr. Lawrence is moody and confident, with a strong Byronic energy that fits the setting. 

In the end, this will probably appeal to fans of Netflix's Haunting series. The twist reminds me of the show, and less of a more traditional Gothic story.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

saltycoffee's review

Go to review page

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

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings