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jhulme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Incest, and Police brutality
cascadienne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Police brutality, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
dominosmum444's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.25
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Self harm
aseel_reads's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
scaredykatbooks's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Incest, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Incest, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Car accident
itsy719's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, and Pregnancy
knitterscasket's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction and Rape
Minor: Alcoholism, Hate crime, and Incest
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Self harm, Suicide, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
grunbean's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The idea of a queer nun detective is fresh, and I enjoyed that aspect of it. I think the religious trauma and exploration of what it’s like to grow up queer in these communities was interesting. But these didn’t really have much to do with the story of THIS book. A lot of the book didn’t have much to do with the story and mystery. I don’t know whether I’m not smart enough and I didn’t pick up on all the clues, or whether the answer to the mystery was shoe horned in at the end.
I found myself questioning the choices of the characters a lot. Not because they’re bad, but because their choices just didn’t make sense to me in the context.
Given that this is a series I feel like more time was spent on building up this world and characters for the series than on the story. It sort of felt like the author remembered there was a mystery to answer at the very end. It gave me whiplash, but not in the ‘oh my gosh I don’t know how I didn’t see this coming’ way. It was more of like ‘was I meant to see this coming’ way. If that makes sense.
There’s a lot of promise and the writing is beautiful in places. The author definitely has a flair for description. There’s a lot of promise, but it doesn’t deliver here. I will be picking up the next book in the series out of curiosity.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
ermw0's review
- 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
3.75
Again, we are told that Sister Holiday knows her stuff and is effective. Even the actual investigators somewhat trust her. But I can see why they don't really, she's not very good at it.
Prince Dempsey - I don't even know where to begin with this character. His entire lawsuit and plot was dropped, so we have no resolution with that. I was annoyed with this since Sister Holliday spent so much time obsessing over him as a suspect. And then his random trial for a different crime (and car chase lol) felt like Prince was going to be a big player, but he was also duped by Sister Holiday and just a traumatized boy lashing out.
Rosemary - was a background character with slight tinges of suspicion but then veers suddenly into a "are we about to kiss rn" scenes with Sister Holiday? This felt shoehorned in, I wish they did more with her.
Nina - she didn't need to come to New Orleans at all. I actually liked her better as a memory, because the effect on Sister Holiday was so much more potent! Then you bring this character back for a tiny scene of zero consequence that could be removed from the book with no changes. Wish they kept her in the past.
Bernard - he was giving off a little creepy vibes towards the end by copying SH's neckerchief and getting the Judith tattoo and insisting SH get one too. It felt like this was building to something, but he's just there.
Sister Augustine - so she is the one who was setting the fires, accidentally killed John but did kill Sister T. I do not understand her motives at all and was confused and underwhelmed that she was the perpetrator? And then SH just lets her go? And then Sister Augustine accidentally (after trying to purposefully) lights herself on fire and dies? What? That ending was wild (not in a good way.)
There's so much more about this book I could write. I'm not sure if having this much to say and somewhat critique means I didn't enjoy the book, or I cared so much I wanted it to be as great as it can be. The book's interpretation on religion, especially as it applies to a queer woman, is very interesting and refreshing. I loved Sister Holiday as a character, I haven't read anyone like her before. I will definitely follow this series but I hope the sequel tightens up or at least continues the threads that were dropped off here.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Pregnancy