Reviews with content warning for Dementia - The Book of the Most Precious Substance

Reviews tagging 'Dementia'

The Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran

31 reviews

cattheteawitchfairy's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

A very interesting concept; who doesn’t love books about books? The idea was interesting and I did want to know what happened but the execution wasn’t too great and I found it very dark and disjointed at times.

There were aspects I would have liked to have seen developed more and things I didn’t see coming because they were out of character etc.

Interesting read, not sure if I would re read it though.

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doctor_reader's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

A tense, sex-positive thriller that I devoured in pretty much one sitting. The moral of the story is fairly predictable, but also much more sad than I expected.

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thecatconstellation's review

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dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is well-written and interesting, but I didn’t warm to any of the characters. It is a book about sex magic and books, so if that sounds up your alley, I would give it a try.

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cjblates's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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babayagaofficial's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

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lyricallit's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Did it go where I expected it to? Yes. Did it make its case effectively? Also, yes. Was this a "couldn't put it down" thriller? eh.

A bit more telling-not-showing and first person foreshadowing than I'd prefer.

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what_heather_loves's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.5

"'You're feeding it. Giving it power. The book both gives power and receives it. Magic...It works. But the tricky things is, it never works exactly how you expect...Whatever it is that usually decides our fates - God, luck, random chance - it's smarter than us. It's always smarter. Magic works, but it's an exercise in irony, sometimes a dangerous one. Be careful.''

Former author, sensible and lacklustre Lily Albrecht has become a specialist bookseller in order to pay for beloved husband Abel's, who has advanced dementia, care. Their bright and full life has become repetitive and dull, isolated in up-state New York, whilst she works and researches miracles for Abel, leaving him with conscientious carer, Awe. At a book fair she encounters Lucas and Shyman, both of whom she knows a little; Shyman is seeking a mysterious and rare, 17th century, occult book, supposed to bring great power. When Shyman is found murdered the following day, Lily and Lucas decide to pick up where Shyman left off and find the book.

Part mystery, part supernatural thriller as well as protagonist Lily's emotional and sexual reawakening as she falls in love with Lucas whilst the pair travel to globe tracking down potential copies of the book. Imbedded in the world of antiquarian bookselling adds a wonderfully rich dimension (who doesn't love a book about books?). There is a sense of pervasive dread about their quest, building with every dark copy, every eccentric and often unpleasant character they meet. Reminding me of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind, it's an engrossing tale, with obsession oozing from the page. Rather too many bodily fluids for my liking (!) but a fascinating and compelling mystery.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my review.

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