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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.vikkiph'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Torture, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Violence, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking
Moderate: Dementia and Cancer
thbarretta'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
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Miscarriage, Violence, and Murder
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.hexagon9067's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Physical abuse, Suicide, Homophobia, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Trafficking, Slavery, Infidelity, Death, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Cancer, Child death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Murder, Incest, Gaslighting, Confinement, Child abuse, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse
worldwidewebb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Inconsistently written to the extent that I suspect Rowling/Galbraith used a ghostwriter for some or all of the writing. Certainly the editors were less involved in this one. Some of the book (particularly the later sections) read well, but several chapters were written as if it was Assignment 2 in Writers 101. Run-on sentences, repetition of words, the godawful use of synonyms to "said"... I can't exaggerate the number of times I physically rolled my eyes.
Not going to bother to flag spoilers because genuinely the plot is not worth spoiling. It's like someone read the Wikipedia page for cult/Charles Manson and decided to write 1000 pages on it. Lucky Robin can think her way out of every situation and is also very hot and everyone loves her!
Re: Robin and Strike, the whole reason I'm still plodding through these books - also no spoilers because there's nothing to spoil. Clearly Rowling/Galbraith know why people actually read these books and it ain't for the plot. Strike undergoes some slight character development this time around, I'll grant you, but most of it has to do with fish.
Will I read the next one? Probably. Will I complain about it? Absolutely. My arms literally hurt from holding this brick for the one million hours it took to read.
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Violence
jclanders'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
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Rape, Trafficking, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Child death, Infidelity, Death, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Torture, and Sexual violence
whatapeach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Torture
Moderate: Sexual assault, Miscarriage, and Child death
Minor: Rape
gemin1reader's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Stalking, Mental illness, Suicide, Miscarriage, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Blood, Rape, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Classism, Dementia, and Trafficking
Minor: Vomit and Car accident
vesperwae'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Child abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Rape, Murder, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping