Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

124 reviews

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use, Car accident, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual content and Suicide

grunbean's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

All in all, I liked this book. It’s beautifully written, and takes you into a world of dark academia that if interesting. It is, however, a slow burner. And what you’re left with at the end doesn’t tie all the ends together. Especially as none of the characters have what I’d consider a likeable development? 

The twists are interesting, and I think these are the best parts of the book. It is interesting to have a morally grey main character. But in a sea of morally grey main characters, it doesn’t make her too different. I suppose that is the point, but it’s not the most compelling when you’re trying to read it. 

It’s a book I’d consider aesthetic in its contents, and it’s perfect for the colder and spookier seasons (even though it’s set in summer). I just feel like there’s more need to really flesh this out. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

chris_reads's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and Classism

Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Eating disorder and Injury/Injury detail

drjoannehill's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

Read on the recommendation of a friend. 

Art History grad goes to New York for curation work and works on a tarot research project.

Nope. Not for me. Mainly because of such annoying characters. I figured out who was the wrong un quite early. There was supposed to be a big disaster coming that never did (telling us things like "I wish I had left The Cloisters at that point") - tension but no grand ending. Small twists that just made me dislike people even more. 

There's not enough history of tarot or weaving in of readings, divination, or spooky goings on. A bit unfinished, to me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

tania_mybookishsecret's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Car accident, and Murder

Minor: Suicide

kumozaru's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Death of parent and Murder

se_wigget's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Although this didn't take place on a castle or manor house, the tone felt gothic. I would have liked less heterosexuality and more occult, but it's well written. It inspired me to order a reproduction Renaissance tarot deck on Etsy--in a wooden box.

Jaw-dropping ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Car accident, and Murder

Minor: Eating disorder

wjb11's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

sal_the_cat's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

takes a while to get in, i don't like the main characters and ann specifically started with an omg everyone else is better than me i'm so bad and imerpfect attitude that seemed kinda annoying

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

kaley89's review against another edition

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? No

4.25

If you enjoy art history and museums this is a great book to emerge yourself in workings of a museum, as well as a suspenseful story line.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content