Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson

19 reviews

janessa's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

 What I will say is that the author should have been able to find a way to finish the mystery in just one book, not needing a sequel to finish the job. 

But when it couldn't be done in two?! Holy smokes.

I mean I will read the next book because I need to know how this series ends! I'm in the weeds now. 

Also, I get that David is frustrated with his father and everything, but that boy needs to learn how to regulate his emotions like the rest of us. I'm quite sick of "bad boy" or "dark and mysterious" love interests in YA. For once our protagonists deserve someone stable, don't they? 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death and Drug use

emily_mh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This instalment was just as spooky and atmospheric as the first book; I was completely hooked and read it in a day. Also, I liked that Stevie was actually investigating this time around. However, this series didn’t need to be three books. The plot and mystery are spread pretty thin, especially the romance with David, where the conflict just feels contrived. I also predicted who Truly Devious was early on in the first book. A predictable solution to a mystery doesn’t necessarily mean docked stars, but it does if the solution feels meh or unsatisfying, which is sort of the case here. I really hope things pick up in the third book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, and Death

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Gore, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Illness, bombs, discussion of global warming, HP reference, divorce

bookishgoob's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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? N/A

4.0

this second book was so much better than the first i’m so glad i continued with it. and the ending!!!! the twists!!!! highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sammymantis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

NOW I GOTTA GET THE NEXT ONE CAUSE OMG

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gore, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction

roncanread's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Sexism

coolbeancat's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Mental illness, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Cursing, Drug use, and Vomit

kb_sherman's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury

mayas's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

3.75 stars

Book CWs: murder, kidnapping, blood, animal dissection, anxiety disorder, alcoholism.

This was difficult for me to rate because the first half was slow-paced and I was bored but the second half was so good. I was a bit disappointed by some of the reveals (and also the last page) but I enjoyed the suspense and mystery.

This instalment introduced a few more characters, who were all (to my understanding) white, and the poc were barely relevant to this book. I hope the non-white characters are more present and relevant in the third novel!

I liked how Janelle's skills were used toward the end, though!

Overall, I really enjoyed this (the second half) and I like how Johnson writes her characters; there's a lot of compassion. The friendships are also really lovely.

:)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma

Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Infidelity

(Further) Content Warnings: murder; animal dissection; alcoholism

jbellomy's review

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug use