nicolarutterford's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Minor: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Alcohol, Self harm, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, and Eating disorder
minkler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Bullying, Misogyny, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mental illness, Murder, Eating disorder, Chronic illness, Rape, Ableism, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
abby_can_read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Murder, Cursing, Bullying, Sexism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Transphobia, Gore, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Ableism, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Stalking, Blood, Pedophilia, Racism, and Medical content
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, and Infidelity
april_reads's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
I did not see the twist coming; however, by the time we finally got to the climax, which felt overdue by at least three chapters, it felt a little... anticlimactic? Not that it wasn't super intense; it merely felt like the tension had been stretched too far, so when it came down to it, there was a sense of relief that it had finally arrived, if that makes sense.
Finally, as much as I enjoy the mysteries, because dang, can JKR really plot them, I'm mostly here for Strike and Robin. I really love them as characters, and I've very much enjoyed the progression of their relationship. But I genuinely expected them to move beyond the will-they, won't-they? nonsense we've been put through the last three? four? books; I get why they're so slow to move into a relationship, considering everything that's at stake if a relationship between them were to go badly. But it just seems like, considering that their relationship is really the driving force behind these books and how long they are, we should be beyond this point already. And to get to the end of this massive book and have
Spoiler
one failed kiss and separate realizations of feelings that they've been trying to repress feels like a bit of a cop out. Like, there's slow burn, and then there's 'let's see how long we can possibly string this out before everyone gives up out of sheer frustration.' And, unfortunately, this book felt like the latter. What is even more frustrating is that there is so much potential to create drama and conflict after they get into a relationship - they're not going to magically become new people, and I want to see that play out - instead, we're given a baby step forward at the beginning of the book, a massive step backwards, and then a teeny-tiny mini-step forwards at the very end. Because now that Strike is finally, maybeSpoiler
ready to pursue a relationship with Robin, she's getting ready to go on a date with some other guy, which if it had come at any point during the book, would have been fine. Sure, make Strike jealous! Maybe it's his turn to pine?! (Except, he's clearly liked Robin since book one.) And, yay, now he finally sees her as an equal, so they can pursue a more balanced relationship. (But why has it taken so long??? He's recognized her worth since fairly early on in the series.) And now we have to wait another year or three before the next one, which leaves me with an overall feeling of not only disappointment with the book but also the feeling of 'did we make any progress?'This was long and ranty/tangential (which is perhaps fitting for the book), and while the book did frustrate me, I enjoyed it. I'm definitely looking forward to the next one. However, if by the end of the next book, we still haven't made progress with Robin and Strike, I might call it quits.
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Self harm, Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Suicide attempt, and Fatphobia
maggies's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Cursing, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Racism, Pedophilia, Medical content, Chronic illness, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Sexism, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
kathrynamonett's review against another edition
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Death, Chronic illness, Ableism, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Misogyny, Mental illness, Racism, Eating disorder, Antisemitism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Child abuse, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
kponturo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Self harm, Rape, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Antisemitism, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Racism
mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Drug use, Racism, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Self harm, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Ableism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape, Cancer, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy