Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson

52 reviews

emily_mh's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The first thing I will say about this one is that it had really, really weird pacing. The best way to describe it is that it felt like one big set-up for the next book, as nothing was really solved or fully investigated. That being said, I really enjoyed reading this. It had so many of my favourite elements: secret tunnels, an isolated boarding school, hidden spaces, and a cold case. Also, Johnson described what Stevie was thinking and feeling really well, so that she felt like an actual person. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Vomit

bookishgoob's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

the beginning half was incredibly slow and i hated it until i realized that there was several books in this series and then it made sense. the atmosphere was being built. this book is a nice dark academia read. i’m starting the second book now.  the main character stevie is a little annoying and a little “not like other girls” which annoys me in books. also her obsession with true crime makes me gag. i hope she learns soon that true crime involves real people and that even though she knows a lot about police proceedings doesn’t mean it’s going to be like her podcasts. i like the building relationship between her and david. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Violence

book_aesthetic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Murder

trulydevious's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, and Kidnapping

Minor: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

sarahsbookss's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders

effys's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

I am in love with this book, it had an amazing mystery and kept me hooked throughout. I really want to jump into the next book asap. 
I really enjoyed the characters in this book, they all felt real and their were characters I trusted and characters I was very suspicious of but the story kept me questioning whether my opinions were eighth or wrong. The story was interesting and I want to know more about it and the ending made me desperately want to immediately pick up book 2 to find out more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

roncanread's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol and Suicide

Minor: Child death

lokiwii's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Child death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcohol

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol

genny's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Hmm! It's hard to review this because it really doesn't feel like a complete book - there was no resolution at all as everything is set up for the sequel. I was aware of this going in so it didn't hamper my enjoyment, but just keep that in mind! That said, I had fun and found myself flying through the pages - the blurb on the cover is right, this is "compulsively readable". I dove into the second book immediately after finishing this one.

The 1936 mystery is a classic whodunnit, and it's enjoyable to see Stevie dissecting it with the lens she's developed from following mystery novels and true crime. It allows her to come across as a teenager with believable detective skills. She has lovely friendships with Janelle and Nate. The romance, though?

I don't get why Stevie and David are attracted to each other, but...eh. They're hormonal teenagers on a remote mountaintop, I can allow it.

Anyway, I liked both the past and present mysteries, and I'm excited to see how they play out in the next books. Love the "dark academia" atmosphere of Ellingham. Just don't read this without the sequels onhand, because it'll be very frustrating.

Side note: The narration misgenders Vi - it's established that they go by they/them pronouns but the narration later refers to them as "she"; I looked it up and Maureen Johnson said that these were unfortunate typos. The correct pronouns are used in The Vanishing Stair.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol

Stevies takes medication for anxiety and panic attacks; she experiences a panic attack on-page.