Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith

16 reviews

wytherwytch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

This book...!

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Death of parent, Death, and Cancer

Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

stirlitza's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Violence, Sexual violence, Death, and Rape

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abortion, Torture, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

roxyline's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Rape, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Cancer

dorsetreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Grief, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Cancer, Infertility, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Addiction, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Blood

eclectic_dodo's review against another edition

mysterious reflective 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Terminal illness, and Cancer

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

iva_kocourkova's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Violence, and Rape

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Sexual violence

Minor: Mental illness, Grief, Classism, and Addiction

jessiejessj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

The fifth book in the series, Troubled Blood takes readers on a convoluted path that has every suspect looking like a murderer at one point, and simultaneously, the main character looking like a possible runaway instead of a possible victim. The character progression between Cormoran and Robin is intriguing also, as this is the first book in the series where I found their friendship/relationship frustrating to experience as Cormoran’s personal situation has him lashing out, making me quite frustrated in his behaviour. While I did consider deducting stars due to the fact there’s a significant focus on rape in this book which made me uncomfortable, in the end the writing was so excellent and the reveal so shocking, I had to give it 5 stars in the end regardless.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Mental illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, and Violence

le3713's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, and Gore

Moderate: Death, Child death, Suicide attempt, and Cancer

Minor: Fatphobia

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious sad tense 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

4.5

Update: Reread this two years after the first time; still agree with my original review. 
~~~~~~~
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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Vomit, Alcohol, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Confinement, Murder, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Misogyny, Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Sexual assault, and Torture

katie_noelani's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Cancer, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness