Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

4 reviews

yarelhdi's review

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Terminal illness, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Bullying, Classism, Domestic abuse, Grief, Animal death, Murder, Misogyny, and Infidelity

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Pedophilia

amberrenfrey's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Medical content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, and Classism

Minor: Sexism, Police brutality, and Drug abuse

mandkips's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Infidelity, and Blood

Moderate: Terminal illness, Medical content, Body shaming, Pedophilia, and Racial slurs

dytiscusfriend's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was a delightful morsel! It's length was appropriate for the narrator who is a concise speaker but I also found myself wishing I could read so much more about the life of this character (as is so often the case with the very best books.) Oyinkan Braithewaite is a powerful storyteller and seamlessly brings together elements of misogyny, classism, cultural differences, colorism, and the lived impacts of trauma into a moving and still entertaining tale about murder. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse, Pedophilia, and Police brutality

This book is in some ways what a friend of mine calls, "a trigger fest." The author, however, delicately addresses each upsetting subject with the grace of someone well-versed in the impacts of trauma. I did not find this book disturbing or distressing to read despite directly addressing in the main plot situations I have personally experienced.

The story centers on a plain-looking nurse who's exceptionally attractive sister she protected from their father's physical abuse, and then after his death, from the consequences of the murders she commits. If you have trauma-responses to reading about child abuse, body shame, hospitals, or post-traumatic stress, I would approach this book with extreme caution.