Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith

21 reviews

hkveit's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, and Death

vaguelyredhead's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Minor: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury

julbel's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

A fun, unique story of the battle between heaven and hell. The character dynamics are compelling, their individual qualms of what is right insightful, and their realizing their potential gratifying. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

leafhead's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

A love letter to those who write. Beautiful story with lovable characters. The only reason it did not get five stars is that the story is kind of all over the place with themes. Kind of like the author threw in everything cool they could think of. It's a lot of fun, but it's a lot. At times I found myself wishing it had a tiny bit more focus on just one character/theme.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Bullying and Panic attacks/disorders

madzie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Death, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Religious bigotry

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

jules_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide

just_jess02's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.75

What a charming, whimsical, cozy read. It held just enough adventure and magic to hold my attention, great characters, and good world building. The historical context and lore was surface level but it really didn’t need to go any deeper to tell this story well. 

I really enjoyed the balance of “bookish” ideas to the characters and plot. The themes and tropes are very obvious… but it’s not so in-your-face and cheesy to take away from the story. I found the transparent nature of the themes to push the story along smoothly and easily. 

I’m excited to read the rest of the series. This book felt like a rich foundation that hopefully will open up into more complex, deep plot/relationships. 

While I loved this story, it wasn’t one that really meant anything to me. It was like a sweet bedtime story almost. I like a book to follow me around once I finish it. I want to reflect, to slowly untangle my mind from the stories’ grasp. This is the only reason I am not giving it five stars. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

iris_lrf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.75

This is probably at least the fifth time I've read this book, and every time has been a delight from start to finish. Hackwith's beautiful style and well-rounded characters create an emotional roller coaster of love, heartbreak, redemption and family. Even with only two actual humans, all of the protagonists feel uniquely human in their own distinct ways, and it's impossible not to fall in love with the cranky old librarian or her anxious upstart assistants. 

Like any good story about stories, The Library of the Unwritten plays with the concept of the roles we play, both by choice and by force, and what happens when those roles no longer suit us. Villains become heroes, sidekicks become leaders, guardians become caretakers. The stories we tell change, and those we lock away are brought back into the light. 

It's not without its flaws, but what book isn't? Sure, there's some plot armour moments, but surely they're counteracted by

Leto literally being unmade or Hero getting frequently beaten within an inch of his life

. Sure, the ending is a little lacking, but with two more books to go, it isn't really the ending, is it?

I recently got the rest of the trilogy and I'm excited to see where the story goes from here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Self harm, Kidnapping, and War

secondhandbookshelves's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I absolutely adored this book. 
Every single character is fantastic and varied and wonderful. 
I loved that there were little tidbits from past Librarians scattered throughout the book.
This story has a hold on my heart and I have already ordered a physical copy (I listened to the audiobook) and the next book in the series. 
There were magnificent twists, a handful a surprises, and I will be in denial that it is over for quite some time. 
"You save yourself. You write your own story here." 
A heartbreaking, beautiful, wonderful book that I will reread many times.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Violence, Grief, and War

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

5.0

I really loved this book. Parts are viscerally heart breaking, others peaceful, and others still are wonderfully human. This book has so many wonderfully integrated references to folklore, library history, and theatre. 

God being a woman and making the arch angel who are working in her stead the antagonist of the novel is narratively, incredibly interesting, bringing into questions of biblical good versus moral good, and it acts as a reminder that being a hero does not necessarily imply goodness just as being a villain doesn't necessarily imply evil.
The novel's twists are artful. I had not expected Leto's suicidal ideation to have been pushed to it's breaking point by Andras, as had I not expected Claire to be a murderer, nor Leto to be Claire's grandson. Andrea's calculated betrayal was well crafted and the library's stand against him was glorious. Claire's willingness to unwrite the souls of those who are a threat to those she loves is a gorgeous character flaw. I'm glad she wasn't guilted out of it. I look forward to seeing more of Romiel in hell.

It feels like I've met a collection of pleasant new friends and I look forward to knowing them more as the series progresses.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Blood