Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

7 reviews

kal517's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Police brutality, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Animal death

Minor: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail

cadence99's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Not groundbreaking, but certainly enjoyable- a fast paced, quick read that will satisfy a craving for a mystery book. (Definitely do take note of content warnings though as this does take on some tough subjects!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, Outing, Police brutality, Violence, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Hate crime, and Homophobia

Minor: Medical content

saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

A predictable mystery with bland characters and a lot of homophobia that felt excessive by a point. Whenever the characters were outside of the Lavender House they were hate crimed and whenever they were in the Lavender House they were resentful of how awful it is that they're essentially trapped. And like I get it, it was especially hard to be queer in the 1950s and I could see writing this book possibly being cathartic for the author to be blunt about homophobia, just for me it was too much and I wish there was more catharsis or light.

Also the Knives Out comparison is extremely far off. The only thing this has in common with Knives Out is the fact they're murder mysteries set in mansions. It has none of the humor of Knives Out nor is it as complicated, which is fine it just should be recommended more accurately. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, Homophobia, and Medical content

Moderate: Alcohol

andloveistoolong's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Outing, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Confinement, Child abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Animal death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Medical content, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Addiction, and Suicide

foreverinastory's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Thank you to Bookish First for a physical ARC and MBC for a finished copy of the book in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.

Wow loved this!! What a book.

Lavender House is a 1950’s murder mystery. Evander Mills has been recently outed and forced to leave his job as a detective. Andy is struggling with his new reality. When he’s approached by Pearl who has a job for him, he begrudgingly accepts. Then he arrives at the estate, Lavender House, and he’s shocked to see queer people living authentically. As Andy continues to investigate, Lavender House changes his mind about many things, but will he catch the killer before he can open himself up to a new idea of life?

I loved this book!! I need it to be a series because I am so ready to jump in with Andy as he investigates crimes for queer victims. This book was incredibly gripping and while I didn’t always agree with Andy, I found his motives believable and poignant. Also who could I not love Andy, we share a name 😌. I listened to the audiobook through Libro FM and I cannot recommend the narrator enough. Vikas Adam also narrated parts of The Charm Offensive and A Dark & Hollow Star and is now officially on my favorite narrator list! Overall, I loved seeing this mystery unravel and I would highly recommend it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Blood, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, Grief, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Violence, Alcohol, and Suicide

Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Biphobia, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Sexual content

patricktreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A dark murder mystery set in the 50’s that is rough and not happy or smooth. 

The twists in this were everything. The discussion of hard to acknowledge topics like homophobia and police brutality was also a very important and well felt piece. It was made a part of the story and not just a plot point on the side. 

Please not content warnings before reading. This mystery is deep and can be triggering. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Violence, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

caseythereader's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-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

3.75

Thanks to Forge Books for the free advance copy of this book.

 - LAVENDER HOUSE is a wholly unique book: murder mystery, gothic tale, queer historical fiction, and explorations of how much you're willing to give up for safety, along with what you owe others vs looking out for only yourself.
- Every time I opened this book the world around me completely disappeared and I sank fully into Lavender House and the people in it. Each character was fighting their own internal battles and I felt for them all.
- I think avid mystery readers will probably figure out whodunnit, but even once I got it, I was still on the edge of my seat watching it all play out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Outing, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content