Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier

11 reviews

catsloverain's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

Loved, loved, loved the dynamic between the two main characters. Despite the horrors, I did kind of want to live in the cottage in the Irish woods and collect my herbs while my equally antisocial companion helped me fix it up and we became unwilling besties. Beautifully written and with an interesting plot as well. I ended up devouring this quickly despite putting it off out of the fear it would be too dense. Can’t wait to continue with the series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Sexual assault

hakainokami's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a story about healing and how choices can lead to steps forward and back. 

Its set in a fantasy medieval world were magic is sort of being forgotten. Its not a romance novel

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

bluexray's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Rape and Vomit

jessicafee86's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Child death

mysana's review against another edition

2.0

This just didn’t really work for me. I was expecting a story about healing but it felt like it was much more about the trauma one needs to heal from. Each plot felt like it needed more space once the acute problem was solved. I liked the characters. 

Update (23 Feb 2024):  I really, really didn’t like the ending. The longer I get from it the more I fixate on that. I continue to feel this is a book that didn’t work for me, not from lack of skill but as a poor taste match. There are things that could have changed and I would have liked it more, but that would be a different book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Rape

Minor: Abortion and Murder

teri_b's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A tough but rewarding read

Juliet Marillier takes us onto a journey as we follow Blackthorn & Grim as they emerge out of the dungeons, traumatised and barely alive, and yet, their lives are not over yet.
The journey Blackthorn is set upon by the fae who offers her a way out of the prison is harrowing and harsh, as she grapples with the grief over her past and the trauma of her imprisonment and the vengeance she now seeks.
Very well written with mythology and legend woven into the mystery that too is written into this story. It was a very absorbing read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Child death and Rape

rbash2391's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Cultural appropriation

the slut-shaming in this book is off the charts and the sexual assault/false rape accusations are used as devices to support a slut-shaming narrative

kerttuli's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping

scorpiogirl93's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Sexism

rubyhosh's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement and Rape

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts