Reviews tagging 'Blood'

A Escada Furtiva by Maureen Johnson

24 reviews

blewballoon's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I guess I'm along for the ride and these mysteries and cliffhangers are working on me. It's like when you're watching a show and you don't think you love it, but you can't stop watching it. David is driving me nuts though, I'm in agreement with everyone from the first book who was tired of his shenanigans. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Child death, and Blood

Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Violence

itsheyfay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Child death

Moderate: Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Murder, Infidelity, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Ableism, and Drug use

books4em's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

This book made me remember why I love thrillers - but not just any thriller, those thriller series where you are left without the one last answer to the mystery. You have so many of the pieces fitting together, but then there's that one question that leaves you hanging. Add in a new cliffhanger, and you've got those specially amazing thrillers. That was The Vanishing Stair. I am about to immediately pick up the third book in the Truly Devious series because this was so good. Johnson really knows how to write a story that keeps you captivated. Reading the two timelines at the same time is a key aspect of this series and one I enjoy greatly. Combined with the fantastic descriptions of the setting of Burlington, Ellingham, and Vermont in general, it is truly amazing (pun intended). The whole subplot with Edward King I'm not a fan of, but I see its purpose. Same with the Dr. Fenton and Hunter subplot - not sure where that's going. As with Truly Devious, I appreciated the queer rep with the side characters (one of whom uses they/them pronouns and it's seamless) along with the mental health rep. I liked how these points continued from the first book. I also liked how this book focused more on solving the Ellingham case, not just the one in the current timeline. And by far, the best moment in this book is on page 348 where Stevie is talking through the murders with those involved in the cupola and the ghost of Dottie looks at George Marsh's ghost and turns to Stevie and nods and Stevie nods back. Yes!!! That moment of understanding and thanks from Dottie is insurmountable! But still, where is Alice and what's the secret surrounding her?! I need answers, so on to book 3!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Confinement

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Kidnapping

themoodreader's review against another edition

mysterious 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Alcohol, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Death, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, and Murder

falennahrm's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Dysphoria, Gore, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Stalking, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

glass123banan's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Child death, Death, Body horror, and Blood

laurenevlyn's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.75

I can barely write this review because I am so eager to pick up “The Hand on the Wall” which is currently calling out for me on my shelf. This book is incredible and in my opinion better than book 1. Maureen Johnson is a genius at writing mysteries that incorporate every little detail in the story. And what a cliffhanger! Excuse me as I stay up all night reading book 3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Medical content

Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Animal death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Self harm, Violence, Child death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Misogyny and Emotional abuse

rissaandherbooks's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

An incredible continuation of my favorite series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Murder, Medical content, Violence, Gore, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, and Sexism

readingwithmeredith's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Death, and Blood

aylin05's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Before i begin my review of this book i’d like to warn anybody who might care that the book ends on a MASSIVE cliffhanger so be prepared to immediately want to read the next book. 
anyway, the book was wonderful as you’d expect from the first one. similarly to the last one, there’s a lot of just open and random details that were difficult for me to get through. BUT when things started to pick up at certain points i was absolutely ENTRANCED. 
one of the perpetual problems i have with this series, though, is that there are A LOT of characters. There’s a whole number of characters that are from the past (from alberts time) and then even more from the present (from stevie’s time) so it’s a bit confusing when a random name pops up and you have to figure out if it’s stevie’s classmate in bio or her friends friends friend that she met at a party. fr tho i counted and there’s 28 characters that i can name off the top of my head.
anyway, overall, the book was the perfect sequel to the first book. so if you liked the first book you’ll love this one too. its the perfect captivating murder mystery and i’d highly recommend. 
now i’m going to read the next one :)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Grief, and Blood