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sauvageloup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
pros:
- the cult setting was extremely well done, very frightening and sinister and the traumatic effect on Robin and the others was obvious in their reactions. It definitely made you think about the horrors of cults.
- sadly J.K. is a talented writer and the pacing and characters are very good, with the complicated plot coming together and the characters growing throughout, to a degree.
cons
- the plot did feel too complicated towards the end as I struggled to keep straight who certain people were, including Graves and Abigail and some others. Would probably reward a reread.
- Strike was a bit annoying in this book, as he seemed naive/careless about the torment Robin went through (which though well addressed as it was happening and immediately after, seemed to be forgotten as the plot came together at the end), his jealousy towards Murphy is tiring, and his lack of action towards Robin gets frustrating.
- J.K. is clearly also making a point about how the law hesitates to go against people for PC reasons and overly tip toeing around sensitive issues, like religious freedom and people living differently. Strike snidely says 'live and let live' to criticise the cult. I think she is doing a subtle dig here towards trans people and their rights.
but overall another compelling Robin and Strike novel, probably the one that gripped me most so far with the scary cult plot.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Stalking, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Abortion, Body horror, Medical content, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, and Alcohol
All the content warnings here, very dark.ksilvio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, Murder, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Alcohol, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Stalking
Moderate: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Blood, Grief, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Trafficking
jess_who's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.75
Graphic: Fatphobia and Rape
motheroffairies'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
2.25
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
lillinares'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
4.25
Anyway, the plot is well-woven and immersive. I felt like I was in that cult with Robin the entire time.
Pat is now my favorite side character. Murphy can eat dirt. I’m proud of Strike and how he’s trying to be better in every sense. Robin is the true backbone of the story, always reliable and kind and smart, although, at times, I wish she wouldn’t be so courageous, not to say reckless. Her decisions make me tense.
I gave this book that extra .25 stars because I cannot believe
Graphic: Abortion, Child death, Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Gun violence, Murder, Confinement, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Gore, Cancer, Death of parent, Incest, Self harm, Trafficking, and Eating disorder
frankiereadsandgames's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Body shaming, Self harm, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Violence, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Fatphobia, and Child abuse
tillyjournals'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
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Pregnancy, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pedophilia
froukjereads's review against another edition
3.5
I read it to see where she would take Cormoran and Robin, and I’ll give her some stars for that. It was much better than the ink-black heart, and I love Strike and Robin as much as I hate the author.
I feel like JKR needs to stop putting her real life grievances into her books (last time it was cancel culture, now she has
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Dementia, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Child abuse, Violence, Child death, Miscarriage, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
I cannot believe the number of content warnings I have had to add to this book.dianezeise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Addiction, Child death, Fatphobia, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Stalking, Self harm, Body shaming, Trafficking, and Adult/minor relationship
biancacseke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Suicide, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Rape