Reviews with content warning for Gore - The Death of Jane Lawrence

“I can think of little else,” he said, finally taking the ring from her and gently, so gently, slipping it onto her finger. “After just a few days, I find I’ve completely lost my mind over you.”

And so is The Death of Jane Lawrence: A mind-losing, world-tilting, reality-altering read that left my head spinning...but in a good way.

Caitlin Starling is a genius, and that mad touch of brilliance is obvious in her leading lady, Jane Shoringfield Lawrence.
It was incredibly refreshing to read a book with a leading lady who fully felt IN CHARGE of each moment, even the moments where reality was slipping from her grasp, where she was teetering on the edge of insanity, Jane felt completely whole, herself, and in control of the moment.

All Dr. Augustine Lawrence had to do was sit there and be pretty (he succeeded in that...most of the time) and let his wife save him from his own self-inflicted tragedy (....did he succeed in that? Who knows).

I saw this book advertised for "fans of Crimson Peak" (hello! That's me!) and boy, did it deliver: ghosts, curses, tragic gothic men, women walking the razor edge of brilliance or madness, lots of rain, lots of mud, and a crumbling, destructive house in the center of it all.

Absolutely worth the read...although you WILL feel (in the final few pages) as though you are not at all smart enough to keep up with how quickly revelations are coming to life and how whiplash-smart Jane's brain is. Kudos to Starling for that.

Content Warnings

mostlybees's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

While this book is a gothic horror novel, the pace was slower than I’d prefer for that genre. It’s a good book, but it took me a while to get through. This book has a very interesting take on what the consequences of magic are.

Content Warnings

peregrinwho's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

It's been a few weeks since I finished this, and I haven't stopped thinking about this book since picking it up. Immediate new favorite. The romance is instantly believable and blush-inducing, the characters are perfect manifestations/carriers of the themes, and the layers of mystery kept getting unfolded like pulling back sheets on the bed knowing you'll end up feeling cold and helpless but you have to in order to release the uncomfortable heat.
Fantastic pacing, harrowing imagery, enchanting insights, and one of the most horrifically perfect endings I've ever read.

I really saw a lot of myself in Jane, and like to think she's autistic. To see a protagonist so complex and full as her who thinks and sees the world as I do is so precious to me since it's rarely represented in a positive light (or at all). Every time she stood up for herself I was so happy. I also saw parts of myself in Augustine, and have since started a paradigm shift after reading how him blaming himself for everything was arrongance. Time to re-evaluate some things boys😅. And the way the time loop was closed??? My friend and I discussed it for hours. I'm so in love with the tragedy of the ending even though I cried and had nightmares afterwards, because I understood all the themes and elements had come together so perfectly. I now also understand body horror is the type of horror that will actually freak me out, so that's knowledge!🙃

There's more I could say but this is long enough. Suffice it to say, overall this book devestated me, and I will be recommending it to anyone who will listen to me.

Content Warnings

rjohnston's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

I listened to this on audio book which may have factored into my rating as I felt like this book dragged on and on. There was so much detail added to some parts of the book and it seemed unnecessary. It was convoluted and the ending was abrupt. However, the plot was interesting and I would try and read a physical copy to see how I like that too.

Content Warnings

asuna1930's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The synopsis of this book definitely did not lead me in the direction the actual book would go. 100% felt like I just read a Doctor Who episode. The writing was definitely compelling and I had to finish it to know what was going on but I felt as lost as Jane for about 90% of the book.

Content Warnings

siriface's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

Content Warnings

gladiolus17's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

I was COMPELLED. I was entertained. This book was a vibe.

I also felt some parts needed a little work.

I had this book on hold at the library and when it came in I completely forgot the synopsis and genre. When I started the book, I did not understand the genre. Partly this is my fault for forgetting, but I also believe this is in part that the book did not set up genre expectations correctly, and I mistakenly assumed this was a quirky historical romance.

The beginning set up weak stakes for the romance. Since Jane’s backstory was not revealed until later in the book, I did not understand why Jane was intent on the marriage being a business transaction.

In hindsight I believe it was because Jane was old and that’s why no one wanted her? Or because her parents died? I don’t know for sure, so I wish that was established.

If I understood what was holding her back from the romance, I would have felt stronger for her and Augustine’s relationship.

I also felt first quarter Jane and the rest of the story Jane was inconsistent in characterization.

In the beginning she is set up to be unemotional, but she is quickly thawed by Augustine’s kindness. She also shows high fear and emotionality for the rest of the book. With her encounter with the magician, she is accused of being monstrous, yet that theme is not explored, leaving me feel Jane’s character arc is incomplete.

The ending also left me confused. <
spoiler> Was Jane Eledy? (Sorry I listened on audiobook, so I don’t know how to spell Augustine’s late wife’s name.) I also felt Augustine’s cowardice and shame were quickly fixed without much effort on his end.

Even with the parts I was not keen on, I did enjoy a good portion of the book. The pace was quick, and the mystery kept me on my toes. It was the ending and how it was tied up left me with many questions, and not any emotional pondering I would hope for.

Content Warnings

avalonroselin's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

View my full review on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPfs9hjcQZM
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart due to the amount of medical horror and gore, but fans of Crimson Peak and other similar dark romances will love it!

Content Warnings

More...