Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Wildcard by Marie Lu

11 reviews

kimjensoo's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Alcohol

applesodaperson's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

Loved this! I had no idea where the story was going, but loved all of the plot twists. 
Borrowed book from Kaden.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Kidnapping

criticalmiss's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

I quite enjoyed this conclusion to the Warcross duology. 
Emika finds out new information, there is more danger and more intricate mysteries that she needs to figure out. 
Emotional and heartbreaking at times for the characters. I will definitely read this again 
TW: Murder, gun violence, drug abuse, suicide, kidnapping 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Murder

discogecko's review

adventurous dark tense fast-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

3.75

I'm not sure how realistic the ending is and it probably went too long. Even with this extraneous ending, it didn't go too in-depth into the resolution of the main trauma that the book was focusing on. Felt like there was much more the characters needed to process in the extensive effects of that trauma.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping and Stalking

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, Dementia, and Injury/Injury detail

laurenevlyn's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.75

The Warcross duology is one of the best I’ve ever read. The characters, the story, the world-building, everything is pristine and incredibly well thought-out. Wildcard itself is an incredible sequel. Every relationship and character from Warcross was built upon in Wildcard, as well as the addition of new and exciting characters. What is truly unrivaled in the Warcross duology is the motivations of the characters. You feel yourself in the same headspace as both the heroes and the villains. The moral question that is posed: “Would you take away free will in order to make a better world?” is so incredibly difficult to answer. Nuance is a topic that Marie Lu deals with fantastically. Truly an amazing sequel in an amazing duology.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death and Classism

airr's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and Murder

rhm04's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, and Medical trauma

grizzlysnack's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

Great way to end the Warcross duology!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Medical trauma

Minor: Child death, Suicide, and Kidnapping

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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

3.5

 I hope this isn’t a controversial opinion, but… I liked Wildcard a lot more than Warcross.

I haven’t been subtle about my frustrations with Warcross – I even wrote a whole post about it because I was so frustrated that a perfectly good story had been seemingly hijacked by an unimpressive romantic subplot. I still stand by that. The romance in this duology is not good. It’s awkward and unbelievable even in its best moments. But the plot in Wildcard is oh-so-much more interesting than its predecessor.

In Wildcard, Lu goes to the next level. No longer are we harping on championships and meeting idols. The plot has thickened. Lu delves into the complicated underworld, the effects Hideo’s algorithm has already had on the world, and the identity of Zero. There’s a lot of action in Wildcard and there’s a lot more at stake. We still see a bit of the characters we met in the first book, but the story really zooms in on Emika and her plans.

I think the description provided to the reader of Wildcard is a bit off. The events mentioned only cover the first quarter of the book, if that. If you’re not quite intrigued by what the description has to offer, don’t write off this book right away. There’s intellectual conversations about what it means to “live” and the ethicality of interfering with free will. There are assassins, yes, but there is still Warcross to some extent and there are still uncomfortable romantic exchanges. The Phoenix Riders get fleshed out more in this book (though they still have a lot of room to grow). Most interesting, I thought, was the introduction of Jax’s character and the grand secret she reveals. Other than a couple small things (the info drop in the middle of the book was a bit derailing), Wildcard is a really solid book.

I nearly didn’t continue this duology because I was disappointing in Warcross. I’m glad I ultimately decided to give it a try, because it was very enjoyable and exciting. Given the foundation (a three-star read, in my opinion), Wildcard delivered an engrossing story that neatly tied up all questions and gives the reader a sense of satisfaction. I would read this one again, and I recommend it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Suicide

creepypiespice's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent