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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.erinnichole13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Abortion, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Child death, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Confinement
rnbhargava's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Grief, Alcoholism, Addiction, Biphobia, Body horror, Gun violence, Suicide, Miscarriage, Self harm, Torture, Trafficking, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, Slavery, Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Excrement, Ableism, Violence, and Bullying
There’s murder, sexual coercion and assault on underaged and of age characters mentioned and suggested. There’s drowning, confinement in tight, restrictive spaces, there’s mental and physical manipulation and torture. There’s hired hit men and lurkers. The plot has to do with a controversial cult that uses a lot of cultural appropriation of Asian religions and philosophies in the cult’s supposed doctrine. There are also scenes and depictions of endangering small children’s welfare. Cult characters assault female characters quite obviously as well. There are characters with mental and physical health problems. There’s suicide and murder. Look at the triggers.stirlitza's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, Child death, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Gaslighting, and Death
karenthebaron'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Death, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Violence, Bullying, Slavery, Grief, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
justbrett'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Dementia, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Child abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Trafficking
wifeslife'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Self harm, Cancer, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Death, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Suicide, Sexual assault, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child death, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Dementia, and Injury/Injury detail
marlisenicole'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, and Slavery
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Cursing, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Torture, Dementia, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
wednesdayzombie'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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Suicide, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Sexual assault