Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

6 reviews

jgwags's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Gore, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Abortion, Death, Drug use, Grief, Medical trauma, Vomit, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

kelseyyreadssbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Drug use, and Murder

taelights's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book really hooked me from the first chapter. The concept was just so interesting to me and exploring the lengths people will go to save a loved one has always been a topic I've found interesting in media. So from the get go I love this book. 

However, it kind of lost me in the second half. The first half focused on the topics I liked. It had great pacing and tension, moments that had me on the edge of my seat, and so many intriguing characters and choices.

The second half had potential because exploring the aftermath of the trauma could have been super interesting but it went in a totally different direction than what I wanted. I thought what the author decided to go with was super unrealistic and overdramatic. Also the characterization of the person running the Chain was just so bad lol. 

Also, I thought the ending was

way too happy? Like I love happy endings, don't get me wrong, but this one was unrealistically happy. The characters expierence so much trauma in the book yet seemed to fully get over it super fast. Also the "babies ever after" trope was really unnecessary in this book. Honestly the romance to begin with was unnecessary but the baby especially. Like ah yes what an on and off cancer patient and her drug addict boyfriend who she's only with due to a trauma bond definitely need a baby.

Anyways this could have been a 5 star read but unfortunately the second half of the book knocked it down to a 4 star for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Confinement, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Cancer, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicide, Child death, and Drug abuse

Minor: Pregnancy

sammyb's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

autumnwhite's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Drug use, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Gun violence, Medical content, and Vomit

lycheejelly's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Vomit