Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

18 reviews

meg1241's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This book wasn't bad, but at times, it was hard to follow. I had to reread a few different times. Sometimes the details/timeline are confusing.  I would read the sequel just to see how it finishes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence and Grief

Minor: Suicide attempt

guerosushiman666's review

dark fast-paced

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

1.0

The is objectively a poorly written book. There is an overt use of adjectives that do nothing but take the reader out if the story. There is practically 0 character development in the story. At one point in the book, the author says that a corpse with colored eyes are harder to accept. As if those with colored eyes are more dead than people with brown eyes. There are several times that entire sentences should have been edited out of the book, but are left, serving no real purpose. At one point early in the book, it is said pointed out that Wren cracks her knuckles, acknowledging it is a bad habit, but Wren's habit nonetheless...then never mentioned again. I wondered several times while reading this book if it had an editor: apparently there was, but they did no favors to the author. Examples that made me question if there was any research done or if there was in fact an editor include:

a head shot kill from a glock 22 from tens of yards away, a 17 inch knife fitting inside of a cargo pant pocket, and a shotgun with a scope that shoots bullets.

I found this book extremely predictable and poorly written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

parchementhallucinations's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

So freaking good! Best thriller I have read in a long time. How is this Alaina's first book and it's THIS good?? I enjoyed the detailed medical aspect of this book (you may not like it if you're squeamish). I love a dual POV. I also felt like she did an excellent job at making me hate the killer, in that "love to hate him" kind of way. I can't wait for the sequel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Animal death and Panic attacks/disorders

aaannina's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

london_michele's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

It’s a mediocre book. I’m a fan of the pod but this didn’t do it for me. I’ll chock it up to first book blues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

noellenuss's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Quick, easy read. Part two moved a lot faster, but the ending was just meh. Unsatisfying. Still a fun read for those who are fans of true crime (and fictional crime?). I also noticed a few grammatical and spelling errors. "Moent" (supposed to be "moment") on page 230 being the worst of them🥴. It kept my attention, but was overall just ok.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

jocmetpie's review

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Wished it was longer. Some parts could have been a few chapters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

chasingpages1's review

dark emotional informative mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, and Abandonment