Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

12 reviews

jashanac's review

4.5

Well damn - shit escalated! 

That was SO creepy and I probably would be terrified to watch a movie adaptation of this if it ever happened - haha

So far this series is just SO engrossing for me. It is like watching a movie a little bit -- the setting comes to life, the characters come to life... and the MYSTERY of it all! I'm absolutely hooked

I'm very much rooting for Evie and Sam to be endgame... and Memphis & Theta are SO ADORABLE oh my god I love them. And it looks like maybe Henry will get at least a blossoming romance? I hope so, because he wants love in his life and he deserves love in his life -- I adore him as a character. 

Ling was a great addition to this little ragtag crew also and I'm so interested to see how she fits in with everyone now that she has met everyone else. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Body horror

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Murder, and Homophobia

Minor: Deportation and Sexual violence

k_galloway's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Murder, Racism, Drug use, Alcoholism, Blood, Classism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Abandonment, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gore, Violence, and War

Minor: Rape

readwithsuzanna's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Racism, Xenophobia, Ableism, and Hate crime

bookswithbec's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The Diviners are back at it again - in the second installment of the series based six months later!  As young adults growing up in the 1920s New York City, they are conquering various challenges that are thrown at them.  
   Unlike THE DIVINERS, Lair of Dreams focuses on Henry and Ling Chen - the Dreamwalkers.  With Henry and Ling becoming better friends, you as the reader get to deep dive into their past/history.  We also see where Evie, Mabel, Sam, Jericho, Theta and Memphis are.  The characters as a whole group make for an interesting combination while alone, you get to feel for them and see them as individuals who just want to belong in a world that is clearly very divided.  

I am excited to continue on with the series with book 3, "Before the Devil Breaks You".  

TOO MANY FABULOUS QUOTES TO PICK JUST ONE OR TWO!!!! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Murder

ellanarose's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Alcoholism, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Addiction, Drug use, Hate crime, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

larareads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Ableism, Trafficking, and Outing

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Abortion

abooksenthusiast's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Racism and Homophobia

emilyplun's review

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death, Homophobia, Racism, Trafficking, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Abandonment, Body horror, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Police brutality, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, and War

haleship's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? No

5.0

Did I take a month to finish this book… maybe!!! Did I think it was kinda slow, yet I’m rating it 5 stars?? Maybe!!! (I was in a reading slump and nothing could get me out of it.)

I really don’t feel like writing out a full review so this is all I have to say: My heart was shattered by the ending of this book. I should’ve expected it, the author is Libba Bray of all people. But I trusted everyone, I’m so oblivious!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Body horror, Gore, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Murder, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Slavery, Addiction, Vomit, and Drug abuse

genny's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

Ahhh! I loved the first book, and this one even more. This, I think, was a "smarter" mystery than the one in the first book. It let the author give insightful commentary on homophobia, racism, PTSD, etc., while making it all part of the main plot. The 1920's setting feels integral to the story instead of shallow window dressing. All the talk about eugenics made my skin crawl. It was also a hit emotionally

Spoiler

; my heart broke for Wai-Mae and Louis

! If you pay attention, it's quite easy to guess the "twists" but they were still impactful. As always, I loved Bray's descriptions of the many neighborhoods of New York - like a screenplay...I can imagine this working very well as a live action adaptation. I'm very attached to the main cast now and I bookmarked way too many Sam/Evie moments, haha. The ending

Spoiler

with them all gathered together as they talk about their powers, and then Will and Sister Walker walk in...

was perfectly cheesy, like a nod to superhero team-ups. I'm only halfway through this series but already dreading its end!

Again, gotta give props to the audiobook narration. The cast has grown larger yet LaVoy was still able to give everyone distinct voices. This is the longest audiobook I've listened to, but every second was worth it. It is...the elephant's eyebrows! (Sorry.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, and Vomit

Racism against Chinese people is tied to the central plot and is experienced by one of the main characters (Lin); there's name-calling, race-segregated establishments, and talk of "cleansing" America of "inferior races" (including Black people). Flashbacks of Henry's past show homophobia from his father, which ultimately leads to (violence):

Spoiler

Louis being beaten to death

. Theta has flashbacks to an abusive relationship (w/ physical harm). Numerous people die throughout the book. Suicide:

Spoiler

Henry's mom suffered from mental illness and attempted suicide; Jericho helped a suffering soldier commit suicide.

Trafficking:

Spoiler

Wai-Mae was deceived into becoming a prostitute.

And I'm not sure this would count as alcoholism, so I didn't tag it accordingly, but Evie drinks heavily throughout the book and is often inebriated.