Reviews tagging 'Violence'

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson

11 reviews

bzliz's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

4.75

Myra is an artist known as a Prodigy- someone who can use art combined with magic to alter reality, like healing a wound, changing their hair color, and maybe even bringing them back from the dead. Her parents have been missing for a long time and she’s struggling to make ends meet while caring for her chronically ill sister Lucy. When the governor’s wife shows up at the art studio she works at, Myra accepts her offer to come bring her dead son back to life, but not everything is as it seems at the governor’s manor. 

Olson blends a unique magical system with lovable characters and just the right amount of regency style will they-won’t they between Myra and the governor’s other son August. I highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a historical fantasy wrapped up in a murder mystery. 

Spoilers for the ending:

Spoiler

I did not see that twist coming at all. I was convinced that Vincent and Nigel were co-conspirators but I never could have guessed that they were the same person magically disguised. Even as Vincent was beginning his villain monologue, I thought he was a secret third son that the Harris family has cast aside. I’m still in shock that he was actually Will all along.

 

Mind the content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Medical content

duhduhduh_dana's review

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Moderate: Classism, Miscarriage, and Vomit

vivavia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Chronic illness, Classism, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders

krystlethegreat's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

Enjoyable read! Great YA fanatastical mystery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Child death, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Classism and Violence

amberspej's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

A fun murder mystery that was very strong in the beginning but quickly unfurled toward the end. It seemed rushed. Otherwise I had a good time reading it and the Owlcrate edition is stunning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Violence

Moderate: Ableism

jesshart8's review

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious sad fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Blood, and Murder

tylerbriggs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

Full of twists, well written characters, keeps you engaged the whole time

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Stalking, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Body horror, Mental illness, and Miscarriage

Minor: Vomit

snipinfool's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

Myra Whitlock has a special talent she inherited from her mother. She is a Prodigy. Prodigies are able to use magic to heal a living thing by painting it in good health. Unfortunately,  Prodigies are being hunted and have gone missing. Both of Myra's parents are missing leaving her alone with only her ailing younger sister. Any remaining Prodigies have kept a low profile. 

The governor, Mr. Harris, outlawed painted portraiture as he thinks it does not honor "The Artist" (the diety worshipped in this story). The governor's son was reported to be ill. One day, the governor's wife, Mrs. Harris, comes to the studio to hire Myra to paint a portrait of her dog. Myra notices a small cut on the dog's leg. She heals the dog by painting it as if the leg was never injured. Mrs. Harris discovers the magic performed to heal her dog and hires Myra to paint her ailing son to heal him.

The story had many twists and turns and I did not see that ending coming at all! I enjoyed reading how Myra's magic worked and learned more about oil painting. Having the ability to heal others in that way would be an interesting skill to have, but I can see how one would have to be very careful not to have that ability exploited. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, Torture, Blood, Body horror, and Violence

Moderate: Chronic illness

paracosim's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

I’m shocked by how much I enjoyed this book. I couldn’t stop reading it! I was on the edge of my seat most of the time and couldn’t stop wondering who the murderer was; it even haunted my dreams.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Classism, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage, Vomit, Medical content, and Trafficking

marnienicole's review against another edition

mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.5

I’m an artist, so I reallly like to read books about art or involving artist. Was excited to see a magic system based on painting, but over all blah book. The majority of this book takes place over about a week or so… an so the insta love, drama and just overall stakes were very lacking to me. It just felt very YA, and I love YA but this felt on the young young still need a love triangle and insta love kinda YA that I tried to avoid. I only kept listening to the audio to figure out how the little sister fairs and we’ll it’s not a bad book but it didn’t really catch at all. And for it to build up a possible sequel, nope smh not for me. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Violence, and Terminal illness