Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Wicked Remain by Laura Pohl

4 reviews

bookedandbusy's review

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

5.0

This was a great sequel and way to end the series! I loved it! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Cancer, Murder, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Chronic illness

hollyk's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Some things this book did well:
-representation
-Anxiety rep
Things this book did not do well:
-literally everything else
Pacing: this book was so lopsided. There is absolutely nothing happening for the first 2/3 of the book, and when, in the final 1/3 mind you, there finally is action, it makes absolutely no sense. The curse made no sense. And while it could be argued that the first 2/3 were meant to be character driven, the point of character driven arcs is to have some form of character development. There was none to be found. The curse didn't feel very urgent considering 4 months pass within the first 2 sections of the book, and then we're led to believe everything else happens within 2 weeks max?? No.

The curse isn't well explained, and also how/why it was broken was confusing as well. Also, 

Where was all the magic before? We've seen absolutely no sign of magic outside of Yuki, and now we're to believe that all the teachers and the headmistress have been witches all along?

The character arcs in this book were okay with the exception of Yuki and Ella, though the latter less so. Suddenly Yuki has turned into Bad Cinderella Snow White and is on a villain arc, but she showed no signs of this thinking in the first book and it just came out of nowhere. Also her obsession with Ella? Where was that in the first book? Also Ella suddenly being in love with Yuki?? This came out of nowhere to me as well, and kind of undermined the friendship conquering all message. I just absolutely hated pretty much everyone. No one was interesting, no one was compelling really, and overall it felt hasty. 

The villains felt like the author tried to subvert the

evil stepmother

trope, and then, when she realized that there would be no villain, shoehorned the villains in with no foreshadowing in the slightest. 

The more I write the angrier I get. I thought the first one was just okay, but this one just did not do it for me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Blood, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Minor: Transphobia

thewoodlandbookshelf's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cancer, Abandonment, Blood, and Death

jackiepreston's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Cannibalism

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Transphobia