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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
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.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
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
ohsame's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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: Grief, Violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Abortion, Rape, Slavery, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship
alexishp23'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: Grief, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Suicide, Gaslighting, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Torture, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Abortion, Murder, Violence, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, and Cursing
Moderate: Dementia and Cancer
maggies'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: Pregnancy, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Violence, and Medical content
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Dementia, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Death, Rape, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child death, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Blood, and Child abuse
isabellaoliveira's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Confinement, Torture, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Child abuse, Dementia, Abortion, Murder, Homophobia, and Child death
Minor: Self harm, Rape, and Pedophilia
hugsowls's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Slavery, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Grief, Confinement, Child death, Child abuse, Bullying, and Blood