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sveta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
You might think me harsh flr the following.
I fear I may have witnessed a bit of character assassination at the hands of the authors. Although I'm aware that a year abroad could really change a person, but, in my opinion at least, Raven acted out of character. Some of it was welcome, like his jokes, even if they weren't the best, they were still funny, but I found the rest of his personality sometimes strayed too far from how I perceived the character would or should react. Obviously, this is subjective, and I could very well be wrong.
I do agree (with Sarah) that Raven's ambition blinded him and made him act immature and a bit selfish, and Sarah often chided and chastised him for his arrogance. I think this is a symptom of his character assassination, in my opinion.
I should add, that I've seen how much disdain Raven's mostly newfound negative personality traits and actions have garnered. But we should remember, that he is a product of his time. Does that excuse his mysogony? Of course not. But we should not lose sight of it. And if it he had been perfect from the start, what character development could have taken place? Not much. I just wish it had been from the start, rather than from book 2.
However, throughout the book, maybe not by the characters themselves, (except for Archie, Dr Simpson and Mrs Glassford), Sarah's ambition is encouraged, or at the very least, presented in a positive light. I get the message, and I do find it important, but seeing as though her ambition might be more supported because of the obvious hardships she will face as a result of her gender, it seems redundant, as a man is discouraged for the same ambition. It seems a bit counterintuitive. Just imagine if their roles were reversed.
Oh, and I just remembered. At the end, we're presented with the somewhat comical prospect, that Raven intends to start his own practice and employ Sarah, thinking that's all she could want from life, when it's anything but. She wants to go to New York and acquire a diploma in medicine. I would think, or at least hope, that Raven would love and know Sarah enough to know, that she desires more from life than being an assistant, when he himself knows that intellectually, they are on the same level, and that Sarah might even be wiser, she's just not afforded the same prospects and opportunities as Raven.
And, Raven will wait for her, I think, even though Sarah didn't, though, the circumstances probably will be different.
And I'm aware I very well could have been attacked for my opinion here, if it weren't for the fact that on this platform one cannot comment on another's review, which might be the saviour of my sanity.
<spoiler/>
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Child death, Cancer, Child abuse, Medical content, and Death
Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Medical trauma, Grief, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Terminal illness
Minor: Infertility, Vomit, and Suicide
kibiiiariii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Abortion, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Torture, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
booking_along's review
- 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? No
3.5
but it took me a while to find my footing in this story - it set a good while after the ending of the first and the exact changes that happens with each of the characters throughout the story aren’t very well explained, instead they are mostly sprinkled throughout the entire book.
not my favorite type of continuation in a series where each book feels like i need to be reintroduced to all the characters, their behaviors and reasons.
the mystery in this was interesting but felt a bit dragged out and in the end the solution of it came too easily to everyone especially considering that they all didn’t see it before.
i disliked the reintroduction of the person that Raven had owned money too but was supposed to have been cleared up at the end of book one but for no real reason brought back in this book.
everything in this story could have happened as it did just without those added scenes and to me it would have been more enjoyable to read that way.
nor did i see the need to include or drag out the stuff that happened in berlin. why was that even in this book?
the ending it self…. it seems that we get yet again a time jump and characters going to very different places.
which isn’t bad in itself i just hope it will be handled a little better in the next installment as it has been dealt with in this one.
all in all?
it was good.
i loved the historical moments and historical medical info was interesting and always and i liked the characters in the book.
i really enjoy the Simpsons household.
but i am also a little disappointed that this book could have also have been the first book in a series with how little it actually continued and build on the first book. only thing that kept going was the strange little thing of will they/ won’t they that’s happening between sarah and will.
still not a bad book.
but i do hope the next one will be a bit better.
Graphic: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Abortion, Death, Sexism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Murder
ts_anne13's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Abortion, Death, Miscarriage, Medical content, Misogyny, Suicide, Animal death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexism
sarahna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Animal death, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Excrement, Blood, Child death, Miscarriage, Murder, Misogyny, and Sexism