Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Marriage Act by John Marrs

5 reviews

april_reads's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

The Marriage Act by John Marrs is a fascinating look at where society could be headed if we continue to embrace AI, invasive technology, and the stigmatization of staying unmarried.

Set in a near-future England, self-driving cars are mandatory, DNA determines your perfect soulmate, and the government has elevated the status of marriage to extreme levels. Everything—from taxes and housing to job opportunities—is tied to your marital status, encouraging citizens to wed. But, in true dystopian fashion, the government is always watching. At any moment, officials can decide your marriage is failing, force a divorce, and demote you to a lower social class.

This book really gets you thinking, as the world it imagines doesn’t feel too far off from our own. While a bit long-winded at times, it masterfully blends elements from classic dystopian fiction with fresh, thought-provoking ideas. Definitely worth a read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Murder, and Classism

butkerfingers's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Mediocre writing and editing, unrealistic conversations, and some plot points not fully thought out. Despite all that, I did find myself having trouble putting it down by the end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, and Terminal illness

Minor: Sexual assault and Pandemic/Epidemic

killmoore_'s review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

It's hard to be disappointed with a Marrs novel, but when I say I was MAD and a little terrified by the end of this.. lol

I started the marriage act after getting about 50 pages into the Family Experiment and I'm really glad I did. Talk about infuriating though. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

jaipsmith's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, and Terminal illness

boop123's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Dementia, Car accident, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent and Pandemic/Epidemic