Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen

49 reviews

larareads's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Murder, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Animal death, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

leanniefae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, War, and Classism

gondorgirl's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Alcohol

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

kayladaila'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Dysphoria

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Grief

sourkiwi's review against another edition

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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol

bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, and Classism

missjeann's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and War

ruthlessreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

2.0

What a gorgeous, fun, queer as hell Clue-style mystery! I loved every minute of this book. It was funny and thoughtful, hard-hitting and also tender. The writing was fantastic and I can't wait to see what the author does next. I really hope this becomes a series because I would read so much more queer pulp noir!

June 2024 re-read: 2 Stars 
I liked the book much less this time. I think the brooding felt overwrought and there was too much explaining of what you should be thinking or taking away from the book. If this was YA, I would be able to forgive that because it makes sense in that context. But these books are written for adults and it doesn't read that way. I still like the found family concept though it doesn't really pan out for our MC in this book. The mystery was still interesting though. I'm not sure if I'll finish the second book though :/

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Alcohol

purplepenning's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

"People are always trying to claim you, without ever listening to who you are."

I usually choose mysteries on the cozier side, with a good dose of humor and shenanigans, and this is definitely not that. This is closer to straight noir. Well, not "straight," since most of the characters are queer and the tone is just slightly less cynical by the end, but definitely more noir than cozy. Anyway — I'm glad I stuck with it! The mystery itself is intriguing. Though it's not too difficult to figure out, there are plenty of surprises and layers to discover along the way. It's the gilded cage 1950s setting and the found family of characters that really shine, however. The historical era comes to life and I love how the ending sets the stage for the rest of the series. Pair this with Last Night at the Telegraph Club, a multi-award-winning YA historical set in the same era and area (San Francisco, but Chinatown).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Outing

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent

Blackmail, historically accurate portrayals of the criminalization and brutalization of LGBTQ people

astropova's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

Pretty cool, love the development of the setting. The characters were all very vibrant. The mystery is good and the investigation is interesting.

The audiobook was mostly good, but there were some awkwardly done parts and inconsistent voices. But the narrator did an amazing job with Cliff's big moment toward the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Hate crime, Suicide, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent

The suicidal thoughts is pervasive in bursts throughout the book, but the eventual completed suicide is not the same person and is not shown to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. There is one pretty graphic rabbit hunting scene.