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tigger89'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
4.0
I ultimately found the interpersonal mysteries far more compelling than the series of riddles set by Mr. Hawthorne. That's not to say that I necessarily appreciated all the characters(Nash and Xander were fun to read about, while Jameson and Grayson grated on me instantly), but I enjoyed seeing how they fit together and interacted with each other, past and present. In contrast, the riddles were merely alright. The answers were fairly obvious, and I found myself predicting the answers, in some cases long before the characters got around to it.
The thing I really didn't like — to the surprise of nobody who's read my reviews before — is that 1) there was a love triangle, and 2) neither option was great! I will say, though, that this might work itself out as the series goes on. Without giving away spoilers, this isn't the first love triangle these characters have been involved in, and it's possible the story might be setting up a situation in the future where they learn from past mistakes and don't do the thing. So I'm trying not to judge too hard just off the first book.
Though I worried that this book — being first in a series — might end on a cliffhanger, I'm happy to report that there was a satisfactory conclusion. Rather than a cliffhanger, we got a teaser of what the next volume's mystery would center around, which I appreciated. I have to admit that I did get the whodunit wrong at the end. I thought I had it all figured out, but nope! Oh well, this is why I don't read many mysteries.
Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
some_froggish_lad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Lesbophobia, Grief, Car accident, Gun violence, Chronic illness, and Homophobia
claire_fitzgibbon13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence and Murder
linda_kemi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Moderate: Death
Minor: Pregnancy
sandyrabanana's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
pucksandpaperbacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Medical content, and Physical abuse
JKR reference, depictions of domestic abuse, depictions of child abuse, shooting, gun violence, medical content, homophobiajsmith1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Death
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol
tris256's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse
csallen03's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, and Alcohol
There is mention of a lesbian relationship, and mild teenage fantasy as well as heterosexual romance.lc3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent
Minor: Physical abuse