Reviews tagging 'Death'

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

32 reviews

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Confinement, Death of parent, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Classism

didireadthat's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-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

4.75

A wild book full of twist and turns. The set up to the plot is engaging and then it keeps spiraling. I loved the chaos I felt for the characters in the drama I was just immaculate. I think what’s holding me back from a full 5 stars is that my main feeling from this book is shock and I think I need some more time to sit with the book and decide how I really feel about the characters and the story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, and Confinement

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Medical trauma, and Domestic abuse

kpwxx's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Outing, Violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, Torture, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Medical trauma, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Child death, Animal death, Rape, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault

Minor: Abortion, Stalking, Dementia, Deportation, and Eating disorder

runefactories's review

dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

The first two parts were great and the story is well-written, but the third part dragged and I didn’t like the ending. I think this book would have benefitted from being significantly shorter. I watched The Handmaiden before reading this and strongly prefer its ending and third part compared to the book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Torture

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide

georgiasummer98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Lesbophobia

zoiejanelle's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

(another library audiobook rental) 

i definitely would have enjoyed this more if i read a physical copy, but the audiobook was also very good! 

this is a fantastic lesbian classic that really appealed to my historical fiction fan brain. the details of the culture/customs era and setting were really fun and added some levity to the darker plots. 

Sue’s perspective in parts one and the end of part three were hilarious, but the scenes at the asylum were honestly nauseating at times. Maud’s point of view was less funny, more thoughtful and romantic. I loved that she had feelings for Sue before Sue realized her own feelings. 

several of the plot twists were brutal, though i admit i spoiled many of them through impatient googling. the pacing was about right, and the romantic element kept me on my toes the entire time. although i really liked living in each character’s head, some parts did drag on and on, which is why this only gets a 4/5 from me. 

overall, i enjoyed the complexity of how each woman felt about themselves and each other, their clear motivations, their unique histories, and their satisfying, poetic ending. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Ableism, Child death, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Grief

aduqu's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Thoroughly enjoyable, and definitely a page turner! There was twist after twist, and each twist colored the events before it differently. 

It didn't quite reach 5 stars for me because it did drag a bit in the middle, but otherwise was a captivating read! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Blood, Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Murder, Misogyny, and Confinement

Moderate: Fatphobia

catherinedsharp's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

DISCLAIMER -  I read this text as a set text for university meaning I did not pick this up for myself. It does not necessarily fit my usual reading selection so my review may be rather biased.

What a read! I would probably have never picked this up for myself yet it’s become a favourite. 

Wonderful writing style with twists and turns that I didn’t see coming at all. Engaging characters and a romance with spicy bits that leave you wanting more!

Would highly recommend.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Sexual content, Bullying, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Violence

clovelatte's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Ableism, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Pregnancy, Addiction, Confinement, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexism, Violence, and Abandonment

readinghavoc's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

5.0

What a fantastic thriller, holy shit! It’s a slow burn but once you get past the first 150 pages it is gut punch after gut punch. I did not see any of these twists coming and never knew what to expect.

Spoiler

I had so much love for Sue and Maud, and while I wish there were 10 more pages at the end, I’m ultimately very happy that there was a grain of a happy ending in the midst of all of the tragedy. Also, Dainty is a real one 😤 and god bless Charley Wag

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Incest and Sexual content