heatherrrr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Gore
tankytoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Speaking of these two MCs,
Crane and Stephen's relationship seemed perilous at first, especially with Crane not knowing where he stands when Stephen does his disappearing act. But we learn that Crane's concern about Stephen's detachment is unfounded as the story progresses.
The novel wouldn't be complete without disturbing descriptions of unnatural possessions so you might not want to be eating while reading this book.
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Vomit
pvbobrien's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Animal death, and Homophobia
Minor: Suicide, Medical content, and Murder
fresholivebread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Day is also insecure in his own way, and there's wonderful but painful navigation in defining their relationship - but the payoff is glorious (and teary!). Their love is hot, sexy af but also sweet and tender. The mystery is great, too, a bit creepy and I enjoyed the mentions of China, Sumatra and the lore.
Moderate: Gore
wilybooklover's review
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Animal death, Blood, Sexual content, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Drug use, and Violence
Minor: Racism, Child death, and Suicide
jennifox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Gore, Death, and Violence
whatcassiedid's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Gore
unwise_samwise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Animal death, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Suicide, and Racism
siad's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Vomit, Suicide, and Child death
booksthatburn's review
- 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
4.5
The story balance between their relationship and solving the actual murders is artful, so perfectly balanced. I love the rapport between the main characters and it's so great to see both of them in the context of other people they know and/or work with.
This doesn't really wrap up anything left hanging from the first book, the main thing it continues is the ongoing relationship between the main characters but that definitely doesn't end here. The entire storyline starts in this volume and wasn't present previously, and the main plot is introduced and resolved within this book. It doesn't leave anything specific to be picked up later in terms of the specific plot, but since this is a paranormal romance series, the relationship itself is the throughline and definitely has more to be explored. The main characters haven't changed and the POV character is the same. The previous book alternated between Stephen and Crane, but this one is just Crane because it's focused on his perspective on their relationship, and a lot of the tension from that is the uncertainty caused by the way Stephen comes and goes with no notice. Crane's narrative voice is consistent with the previous book. This would mostly make sense if someone read it without the first book, though of course the relationships already in place would lack some of the backstory from before.
This continues the mix of magic, trauma, catharsis, and very steamy sex which made the first book so good, I'll definitely finish reading the trilogy.
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Gore, Rape, and Vomit
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, and Xenophobia
CWs for A CASE OF SPIRITS: alcoholism, gore, death.