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wordsofclover's reviews
2126 reviews
Cell by Stephen King
dark
sad
tense
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? No
4.25
Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
Out by Natsuo Kirino
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
World's Edge by David Hair
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
In this book translated from Korean, we follow Hornclaw - an elderly lady who is coming up to the twilight years of her career as an assassin. As Hornclaw thinks back on her life and the decisions that she made to lead her up to now, someone close to her begins a revenge plan to bring her down.
I didn’t know what I was going to think of this book going into it but I found it very paced, fun and I really loved getting to know Hornclaw’s background. She was a fascinating character with a personality of steel but also someone you would want to have on your side. I enjoyed seeing the moments when a peek of humanity would come through such as her thoughts about the young doctor, his daughter and also her past relationship with her mentor. Not to mention her relationship with her dog who she comes home to every night but also makes sure to leave a window open for in case she never comes home.
This book also highlights quite well some of the feelings and experiences of being an aging person in a world and society that overlook the old in favor of the young. We see Hornclaw traded roughly and rudely by her younger counterparts and even going around on her day to day business she is almost invisible (which of course can come in handy in her line of work).
I enjoyed this a lot - there is some violence in it as can be expected but I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Hornclaw during this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Echoes by Maeve Binchy
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5