Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Koodinimi Alice by Kate Quinn

15 reviews

jcinf's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

So good. This book was fascinating to me. I’ve heard of women spies during the wars, and I’ve actually read The Lost Girls of Paris (which I also recommend). So I’ve read a similar historical fiction book before.  

I love the intensity of the chapters. I honestly lost a lot of sleep reading this book because I couldn’t put it down. It has been a while since cliffhangers have gotten me so well. 

The characters were fantastic. The “bad guy” was truly an evil person, and I loved that. Sometimes you don’t need to build a villain out to have complexity. Sometimes evil can just be evil. Especially in a time of war. And I think in this situation, it worked great. That said, the villain wasn’t a flat character either. They never felt underdeveloped. I always knew their motivations and I think that worked so flawlessly too because of the nature of being a spy means learning someone’s nuances and what makes them tick. 

So action-packed — which I loved. But also lots of character development and character growth. 

My favorite part (not a spoiler I promise): the representation/depiction of just really cool women. Really badass, intelligent, clever, courageous, interesting women. And knowing it was all based on reality made it even cooler. 

Loved this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

cersmessenger's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

anne_reader's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

bootsmom3's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent

epruta's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abortion

nikimorr's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

“Women who couldn’t be beaten.”

This book is a true woman-power book spanning two wars. The ladies of this book were truly remarkable, especially learning that the WWI spy “Lilli” was a true war heroine and many of her stories were historically accurate. 

This book can get very dark, especially describing Eve’s time as a spy during the war and during prison. However, it added a layer of authenticity. The author’s ability to relay the horror of what was happening in this setting was incredible. It was palpable. 

It felt like multiple books in one book reading the lifetime of Eve and journey of Charlie, yet I never got bored or felt the book dragged. Everything felt necessary. 

This is definitely a book that will stay with me. The character of Eve was fascinating and memorable. Her journey with grief, self acceptance, and guilt gives a lot to reflect about. Charlie’s story of self acceptance, self forgiveness, and her taking control of her own life despite stigma and scorn is aspirational. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

thebranchlibrary_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

sabrina_d_arcy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Excrement, and Grief

cadybooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

madmantha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Beginning was a bit slow for me but once it really begins to pick up, it does not stop. 
Both narratives blend together seamlessly in the final arc; everything comes full circle.
One of my favorite epilogues ever written; really pulled on the heart-strings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Eating disorder, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Stalking, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry