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wytherwytch's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
So I have really wrestled with reading the Strike series after everyone saying at how transphobic JK is. I have tried to educate myself on this matter to understand it. While I do understand some concerns - mainly surrounding the women's shelter that JK funds - I also think that the argument as it were is more nuanced than the majority give credit. I wish it something more open to discussion - the downside of cancel culture is that it takes away the ability to discuss, to understand, to find middle ground. But none of this is about the book so I digress - apologies
I recovered my guilt from reading this while crying about the storyline involving Strike's Aunt Joan. It was powerful and relatable.
My main criticism of this series is that the books are so long but a lot happened in this one and I have idea where I would have cut any of it. It was a joy to read. It made me laugh, and cry. Brilliant stuff.
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
melitiamelitia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Transphobia, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, and War
jhbandcats's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
~~~~~~~
I couldn’t figure out why it was taking me so long to make any progress in the electronic version and then I realized the paper version is 900+ pages long. I loved every page. I think Rowling is a great writer, creating an intriguing plot and complex characters, doing a surprising amount of research on detailed locations and with complicated astrology / Zodiac info. Her pacing is great - she always adds a bit of humor when the tension is getting to be close to unbearable.
I fear I’m not articulating just how much I loved this book. I have been a big fan of the Cormoran Strike series since I read the first one.
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sauvageloup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Pros:
- Rowling is an exceptional writer; the complicated but satisfying plot, the mixture of straightforward tone interspersed with moments of lyrical descriptions and reflection, the characterisation and development, the slowly eked out relationship development, the depth of every single side character, how each character's dialogue is made distinct and accents rendered realistically, the research that's clearly gone into it... just so much to admire in the actual writing and her skill.
- I like Robin and Strike and many of the other side characters. They feel real and Rowling puts across their emotions very well. There's a very real feeling of being as harried and pressured as Strike clearly is with everything piling up and then the release at the end.
- the plot was complex but wrapped up very neatly at the end. It was complicated by various characters' mixed motives but it didn't feel forced.
Cons:
- My only complaint about the writing was that it was *massively* confusing at the beginning. SO. MANY. NAMES. Got super confused. Also later on completely forgot who
- Rowling's views... Rowling as a person... that was just in my head the whole time I was reading.
- her views then come through in this book, more than the others I think. This is the first book to come out post Rowling revealing herself as a massive transphobe and I think there's a lot of elements of that that come through in this.
-
Anyway, the book was written excellently, but Rowling is a piece of shit. Unfortunately, I am also very jealous of her writing abilities and wish they'd been given to someone more worthy.
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
kdmusings's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This book was very personal to me. However, upon reflection it is important to remember Rowling’s homophobic views and how this has been directly relayed through in her writing.
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Abortion, and Toxic friendship
mariah_reads's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, Abortion, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape and Vomit
sylvia_reads's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Also I read the Dutch translation (which was 1000+pages) and there were multiple errors that kinda annoyed me.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Vomit