Reviews tagging 'Death'

Giftmakerskan by Sarah Penner

296 reviews

pamsbur995's review against another edition

mysterious slow-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? No

3.75

I really wanted to like the book. It has a veeeery slow start which is why it took me so long to finish it, there's a lot of built up until you actually see any plot start to take shape. The author does create a nice descriptive environment and makes you understand each character's emotions and drives. I'd say it has a satisfactory ending and once the plot actually began it was a nice read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility and Miscarriage

Minor: Death, Infidelity, and Sexual content

janicesierra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, and Vomit

Minor: Death of parent

nikkilerae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

carlynnnnne's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

This was an interesting read and different from anything I’ve ever read! The concept was great, but the execution was mediocre at best. The very slow start makes me rate it lower, but if you can make it 60% of the way through without DNFing, the story really picks up and you’re in for a wild ride! I love the aspects of magic in this book that leave you wondering “is it real?” Overall, a quirky, short read that crosses through time in a fun way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Blood, Vomit, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault

jenniferbowman's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.25

Okay. So. Reviewing this is complicated, because throughout 90% of this book, I was very ready to rate this story 4.5/5 stars. Five stars if the ending wowed me (which I was hoping for). The majority of the book is compelling, and moves fairly quickly…for the most part, I don’t feel like any words are wasted.

HOWEVER…I was left scratching my head at the ending—from the quickly rolling pace of the climax on, I craved a surprise twist that would leave me reeling and chuckling with surprise. But…the loose ends, although tied up, did not feel complete.

When it comes to a book like this with multiple timelines, I want all of those timelines to be tied together in an inseparable way. This felt more like two separate stories that were related, BUT…I really wish they had been better connected as one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

lisa_hin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

mj_86's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-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? Yes

3.75

If not for the last page, I would have given this 4.5 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Infertility, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual assault

a_bow's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

alex_k99's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.5

An sich hat mir das Buch sehr gut gefallen, es war spannend und ich habe mit den Figuren mitgefiebert (Ich hätte James mehr als einmal gern eine Schelle verpasst).

ich fand es auch sehr klug gewählt, dass am Ende nicht genau aufgeklärt wird wie Eliza überlebt hat und ob Nella tatsächlich gestorben ist. Manche Sachen gehen auch mit den besten historischen Quellen unter.

Allerdings gab es auch einige Dinge die mir negativ aufgefallen sind bezogen darauf, wie gut recherchiert es ist. Wären diese leichtfertigen Schnitzer nicht gewesen, hätten das sehr gut 4,5 Sterne sein können, da sie mich schon sehr daran gehindert haben, mich in die historische Handlung reinzudenken. (Wer es genauer wissen will, kann unter dem Spoiler nachlesen was ich meine)

1. Warum hat die Autorin die ganze Zeit darauf bestanden dass die Figuren der historischen Handlung Pergament statt Papier benutzen? Das war Ende des achtzehnten jhds schon längst von Papier verdrängt worden weil es in Herstellung einfach viel zu aufwändig war. Mag sein dass sie damit eine Art vage historischen Vibe herstellen wollte, aber dafür ist Pergament ein sehr unüberzeugendes und faules Mittel zum Zweck. Taktile  Beschreibungen usw hätten sich da eher angeboten

2. Warum wusste Eliza nicht was eine Menstruation ist? Für ein Mädchen das auf einem Bauernhof gelebt hat sie diesbezüglich arg unaufgeklärt gewirkt

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Death and Miscarriage

odcosta's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

Really interesting! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Murder