Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

115 reviews

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

mari_books's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was captivating! Just the right mix of mystery, museum lore and toxic relationships. I finished this book in one day. I did have some issues with the characters feeling flat. There was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing outside of the relationship between the two female mains.

I disliked Ann’s relationship with Leo it felt like she wasn’t into it at all and then would have random sweet sentences but it was like we readers were never really in the room with them. I also feel like Ann’s mom and dad story needed more airtime. Also Ann being a total pushover and not having reactions was so boring….like when she found out Leo was stealing or had slept with Rachel before - I found her nonreaction strange. That author should at least describe how she feels. Additionally, the book kind of crashed at the end. I think it could have paced itself a bit tighter

There is something slightly unfinished about the plot and narrative, however I did enjoy deeply. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

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

annikenr's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic friendship

shay_talksbooks's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

Borrowed from my local library.

This was set in the modern day, but it felt as if it spanned the eras as we delved into the Cloisters, NY's Met museum filled with Gothic architecture and gardens and its medieval & renaissance artworks and exhibits.

There was a lot more to the story than I initially realised (from the blurb), encompassing art history, botany, the history of cartomancy/tarot and a mild exploration of language and translation.

The whole story felt tense and claustraphobic as we progressed through a stifling summer filled with gothic architecture, secrets, and an obsessive thirst for knowledge and prestige. The epitomy of dark academia and I loved it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Death of parent, and Murder

rachelpacz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Murder, and Toxic friendship

duckizza'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Murder

basementofbooks's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death and Suicide

hannahcowdell's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0

Not the best book I’ve read from the dark academia genre. Generally well written but the characters felt a bit flat and the dialogue lapses into cliche at times. That said, the plot had enough twists and turns to keep me compelled enough to finish it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

elanuruysal's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Murder