Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Spear by Nicola Griffith

4 reviews

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

I grabbed Spear as an audiobook (narrated by the author!) and I highly recommend this format for an atmospheric and immersive listening experience. As a reader less familiar with Arthurian legend, I'm sure I don't fully appreciate all of the ways in which Griffith has expanded the original myth by recasting it with her own gender-bent, queer lens, but I loved it all the same. The writing is intentionally lush, and the imagery so meticulous that it's easy to feel physically present in this magical world. This is a quick listen (just under 6 hours at 1x), and I know I'll be returning to Griffith's other works soon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, War, Alcohol, Violence, and Grief

tamara_joy's review

adventurous fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, and Alcohol

bluedilly's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Suicide, Infertility, and Violence

Minor: Sexual content, War, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Torture, Animal cruelty, Classism, Grief, Mental illness, and Rape

booksthatburn's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

SPEAR is a wonderfully queer addition to Arthuriana, the protagonist filled with a hunger for belonging and a willingness to put in the work to achieve the rightness she can feel in her bones. 

I'm delighted by the characters I could recognize, they feel full and vibrant even when they are not the focus. The pacing is unhurried, allowing quiet moments to take up precisely the space they are due, only occasionally breaking into action and danger. It has grief and joy, each having space in their turn. The author narrated the audiobook and did an amazing job. The words flow easily and her performance enhanced the already excellent story. 

Having reached the end I'm contented by the time I spent with this book, and I'll happily spend time again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Grief, Blood, Animal death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Ableism, and Cannibalism