Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

213 reviews

bootrat's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Gun violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cannibalism

corsetedfeminist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

It’s okay, I didn’t need my heart to be in one piece anyway.
If you’re keeping a spreadsheet, yes, this book also made me cry. 
I’m not sure how to write a review for it, because it defies my normal method of writing reviews and I don’t want to spoil certain very startling plot points, but I shall try. 
I really liked the growth of Harrow’s character in this and I found myself identifying with her a lot as someone who grew up in religion and then suddenly started deconstructing it all. The constant question of what is real or not in this book makes it both rather confusing to read but also riveting, and Harrow’s struggles with mental illness and hallucinations is handled realistically- gently by those who love her, and as another way to manipulate her by others. (Ianthe, when I get my hands on you, you’re going to regret being the surviving twin) I loved Harrow in the last book, but I came to love her even more in this one- she is deeply, deeply flawed, but also deeply broken and simultaneously trying to be better, even when her methods are… questionable. 
The plot itself is complex and confusing, but also grabs you by the throat and drags you along in a way that cannot be escaped. I’m still a little unclear on all of the relationships that are detailed in the last few chapters, and I’m pretty sure I need a spreadsheet, but the story manages very complicated and obscure worldbuilding while preserving the atmosphere and drive in a way that keeps the story moving forward. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Genocide, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury

isaaah's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and War

zefancifulreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

What an epic! I spent most of the book saying to myself “what the fuck?!”
The world building was a bit dense at times but I loved the psychological breadcrumbs and the whispers of “is this how it happens?”.
Very fun. This series is a delight. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Mental illness, and Grief

Minor: Self harm and Suicide

kys_chai_and_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

5.0

This book, on the re-read, is one of my favorites to date. It's challenging and heartbreaking and tense, and frankly confusing as hell the first time you read it. But it's worth it for the experience of fuguring out the layered mysteries at the end-- and seeing the threads on the reread. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and Abandonment

Second book in the Locked Tomb series

cuteasamuntin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Medical content

chrisb913's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was incredible. First off, the way Muir has woven this narrative is absolute brilliance. The book is incredibly confusing. You start off the book directly contradicting everything you read in Gideon the Ninth and it all serves a purpose. Muir is able to craft a narrative that is so unique and it has just blown me away.

Second the characters are so well written. There is still so much snark and sass and attitude as we meet back up with Harrowhark as well as new characters for this story. Harrow may not have the same vibe as Gideon, but I found myself cackling at the way she interacts with all characters involved.

At the end of the day, this was baffling, confusing, mind blowing, and just such an incredible experience. I cannot wait to continue.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Gore

Moderate: Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Cannibalism

lunarkris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Genocide, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

arysuh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.5

À la première lecture, je n’ai pas aimé le roman. C’était tellement différent de Gideon que j’étais à deux doigts d’abandonner. Je suis heureuse d’avoir tenu bon et de l’avoir réécouté et relu à l’aulne des révélations faites dans le dénouement. 
Pour l’instant, c’est pour moi le plus difficile à lire des trois publiés à cause des thèmes abordés de ce qui arrive à Harrow, de ce qui lui est infligé.
Et dire qu’on pensait dans GtN qu’elle menait sa barque ! 😅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

kelisabeth's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail