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gretelchen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: War
lionfish_22's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Gore, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Self harm
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
maresuju's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Pregnancy, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
wild_avalon_lass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“I can think of little else,” he said, finally taking the ring from her and gently, so gently, slipping it onto her finger. “After just a few days, I find I’ve completely lost my mind over you.”
And so is The Death of Jane Lawrence: A mind-losing, world-tilting, reality-altering read that left my head spinning...but in a good way.
Caitlin Starling is a genius, and that mad touch of brilliance is obvious in her leading lady, Jane Shoringfield Lawrence.
It was incredibly refreshing to read a book with a leading lady who fully felt IN CHARGE of each moment, even the moments where reality was slipping from her grasp, where she was teetering on the edge of insanity, Jane felt completely whole, herself, and in control of the moment.
All Dr. Augustine Lawrence had to do was sit there and be pretty (he succeeded in that...most of the time) and let his wife save him from his own self-inflicted tragedy (....did he succeed in that? Who knows).
I saw this book advertised for "fans of Crimson Peak" (hello! That's me!) and boy, did it deliver: ghosts, curses, tragic gothic men, women walking the razor edge of brilliance or madness, lots of rain, lots of mud, and a crumbling, destructive house in the center of it all.
Absolutely worth the read...although you WILL feel (in the final few pages) as though you are not at all smart enough to keep up with how quickly revelations are coming to life and how whiplash-smart Jane's brain is. Kudos to Starling for that.
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Blood, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content
peregrinwho's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fantastic pacing, harrowing imagery, enchanting insights, and one of the most horrifically perfect endings I've ever read.
Graphic: Drug use, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Medical trauma, and Vomit
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death of parent
seasidefaye13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Medical trauma
asuna1930's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Death, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
gladiolus17's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I also felt some parts needed a little work.
I had this book on hold at the library and when it came in I completely forgot the synopsis and genre. When I started the book, I did not understand the genre. Partly this is my fault for forgetting, but I also believe this is in part that the book did not set up genre expectations correctly, and I mistakenly assumed this was a quirky historical romance.
The beginning set up weak stakes for the romance. Since Jane’s backstory was not revealed until later in the book, I did not understand why Jane was intent on the marriage being a business transaction.
I also felt first quarter Jane and the rest of the story Jane was inconsistent in characterization.
The ending also left me confused. <
spoiler> Was Jane Eledy? (Sorry I listened on audiobook, so I don’t know how to spell Augustine’s late wife’s name.) I also felt Augustine’s cowardice and shame were quickly fixed without much effort on his end.
Even with the parts I was not keen on, I did enjoy a good portion of the book. The pace was quick, and the mystery kept me on my toes. It was the ending and how it was tied up left me with many questions, and not any emotional pondering I would hope for.
Graphic: Blood and Gore
bethboo's review
- 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
5.0
We follow a practical and clever woman, Jane, in her quest to obtain a husband, so not to burden her adoptive parents. Once she brokers a deal with an accomplished and genuine docter, she realizes that this marriage might not be simply business like she thought. He offers much more than financial security, but seems to have more skeletons in the closets than she anticipated. As clever as she is, Jane might not make it through with reason and will alone. A gothic tale that felt real and confusing and startling, almost as if the reader was the main character. Normal life gets shattered by secrets and madness and magic and death and darkness and emotion.
The characters were perfectly flawed. They all felt like real people doing the best they could with what they had been given. I was eager to get any information I could on the confusing secrets Jane was given, making the book hard to put down. Because while they were weird, it wasn't outright suspicious, so it gave me pause and sympathy. This author did a wonderful job with the main voice and presenting us with just enough details without making it blatantly obvious or mind-bendingly confusing. I've already added her other works to my TBR pile and will definitely enjoy them.
You HAVE to read this book. It was spooky and creepy and real and made me feel like I was losing my mind.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Medical content, and Terminal illness
woshuaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Medical content, Blood, and Gore