Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

All That's Left in the World by Erik J. Brown

21 reviews

davidbythebay's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-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

5.0

I was skeptical, to say the least. I worried that I couldn't handle a dystopian world post-pandemic from an incredibly deadly flu. I waited to read this until I was able to better handle that because I was unsure how I would react to a post-pandemic dystopia. To be honest, I never once thought of COVID-19 as I tore through this book like a hot knife through butter.

I was kept guessing from page 1 about what was going to happen next. Some things did happen as I hoped/predicted, even if not in the way I originally thought. Other things came out of nowhere. No matter what, it was intense in all the best ways. I legitimately YELLED at the book at one point - no spoilers! - and pleaded with the author as though I was Annie Wilkes in Misery. Had things not gone to my satisfaction, I don't know if I wouldn't have gone full Wilkes. Thankfully, things worked out better than I could have hoped. 

The pacing of the book made me hesitant a good amount of the time. It flew by to the point where what I thought the ending was going to be would have occurred only 50% of the way through the book. Yup. I was convinced that the story arch was one particular thing and that it was being resolved at 50%. I was pleased to see that there was some legs to the second half of the book - and I do mean a nice set of legs. It was almost like this was two books combined into one in that there were almost two different plots that were seamlessly and masterfully stitched together. Brown's book doesn't feel like two books smashed together. At the 50% mark I started wondering where we were going to go next. The second half naturally came out of the first half and transitioned smoothly.

Brown skillfully maintained the tension and begged the reader to turn the page. There was not a stray word nor a stray moment in this piece. I have to say, this was a masterful M-M Romance. Hope and the discovery of what love and what makes a home is the center of this novel. I have discovered a new book that I have fallen in love with. I hope that this author, whom I now adore immensely, will write again in the future. Whether it be in this universe or another, I want to see more from Erik J. Brown! 

WARNINGS: Be of the mindset that you can handle discussions of a deadly super flu, detailed descriptions of illness and deaths, violence, some gore, death of family and loved ones, homophobia, and medical discussions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Misogyny, Homophobia, Gun violence, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Terminal illness, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Bullying, and Violence

Minor: Suicide

royr__'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Overall a great book. I would say that Jamie and Andrew developed feelings for each other early on in the novel and I often felt the writing was a little bland but it was okay. I would say that Events throughout the novel occur quickly through skipping ahead a few weeks or days but I understand that the author was trying to not lengthen or extend the plot for too long. Overall, I would recommend this read if you're taking a break from a book series. The book is a good representation of the emotional effects and circumstances during a pandemic which is what we've been experiencing these past two years.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, and Gun violence

Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Death

booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Violence

eimear_jane's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Vomit, Violence, Gun violence, Gore, Drug use, Chronic illness, and Child death

cosmichorizon's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, Medical content, Violence, Terminal illness, and Blood

Moderate: Homophobia, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Ableism

des9120's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

great humor, and lovable characters 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Violence

remimicha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical content, Blood, Child death, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Violence

Moderate: Body horror, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

Minor: Colonisation, Misogyny, and Vomit

criticalgayze's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

First, I want to talk expectations management. The copy for this book labels it as an "adventure romance," and I feel that needs to be discussed a little more. This book is an "adventure romance" in the way The Darkness Outside Us would be called a "science fiction romance." All That's Left in the World is an incredibly bleak package with a kernel of light and joy at the center that keeps the book from just fully being The Road (Young Reader's Edition).

That being said, this is an amazing book for Queer fans of the post apocalyptic genre. The tension is great, the story hits a lot of Walking Dead and The Road marks, and you get a sweet drop of M/M romance mixed in. I appreciate Erik Brown for allowing an entry for the Queers out there.

As much as I enjoyed the story, I did want more of both the "adventure" and the "romance" elements. With the adventure pieces, I felt we were rushed through a little too quickly in a way that added a lot of tense moments but allowed us very little time to actually sit in and stress about them. (This may be the YA of it all.) The romance is also cute, but I feel like it takes too long to get there. I know the acknowledgments cite this as an editorial choice, but I think that gives the reader too little joy for a YA story. I think this book would have worked better as a trilogy or duology where Brown could have delved a little deeper without creating one overlong piece, which I feel YA likes to try to avoid.

I am excited to see where Brown takes readers next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Death, and Gore

Moderate: Homophobia

kaylaej03's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

An easy to read book, fairly engaging. It seemed almost unfinished, but maybe that's opening up a book no. 2 -- which I'll definitely pick up. The writing was funny and gripping and easy. Cute romance, tho the confession lost me a little bit. Moves incredibly fast at some moments and slow at others -- I definetly wanted to explore more plot points before the boys moved on. Overall, I enjoyed reading, but I don't feel complete after completing the book. Maybe that's the point, but doesn't fit the vibe of the literary style. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Medical trauma, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Body horror

_maya_e_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Vomit and Racism