Well, it's long. And often slow. And there's some dithering. And some really indistinguishable minor characters that may or may not be more distinct iWell, it's long. And often slow. And there's some dithering. And some really indistinguishable minor characters that may or may not be more distinct if you've read the first six books. And familial relations that really need a damn diagram. And yeah there's reasons I put it down in April, but look my kid was napping on me and my choices were limited.
Cousin Clara's alright though.
Content notes: suuuuch misogyny on the part of the many villains, current and back story; pedophilia as back story; misogynist slurs; that trope where a woman believes she is, and I quote, "deformed", because of something a dude tells her but really the only thing wrong is he is hateful which look, it happens, but I am so sick of it
Merged review:
Well, it's long. And often slow. And there's some dithering. And some really indistinguishable minor characters that may or may not be more distinct if you've read the first six books. And familial relations that really need a damn diagram. And yeah there's reasons I put it down in April, but look my kid was napping on me and my choices were limited.
Cousin Clara's alright though.
Content notes: suuuuch misogyny on the part of the many villains, current and back story; pedophilia as back story; misogynist slurs; that trope where a woman believes she is, and I quote, "deformed", because of something a dude tells her but really the only thing wrong is he is hateful which look, it happens, but I am so sick of it...more
Content notes: kidnapping; drugging on various forms; discussion of rape; casual racism; human sacrificHORROR, DEFINITELY HORROR
But FUN, for all that.
Content notes: kidnapping; drugging on various forms; discussion of rape; casual racism; human sacrifice, including of a baby (the worst happens offscreen but is alluded to); eldritch horror; backstory of sexual coercion; violence including guns and blades; brief mention of drug addiction (it's a Sherlock Holmes story)...more
That was terrifying and the world's terrifying and oh my god.
content notes: murder (described), torture (described), abduction, abduction of children, That was terrifying and the world's terrifying and oh my god.
content notes: murder (described), torture (described), abduction, abduction of children, serial goddamn killer, snuff films, internet terror groups, seriously they sell TICKETS to watch live broadcasts of murders, child pornography (mention), guns and gun violence, faked footage to terrorize and discredit a woman...more
I have no idea how I got this - my guess is it was on sale and I found out from Smart Bitches - but HOLY FUCKING SHIT. And can I ALSOHOLY FUCKING SHIT
I have no idea how I got this - my guess is it was on sale and I found out from Smart Bitches - but HOLY FUCKING SHIT. And can I ALSO mention how A-MAZING it is to read a book that gets online harassment and stalking right? Like, this book is TERRIFYING, but it also got that shit *right*
And speaking of, CONTENT NOTES: -serial killer -gruesome murders, described in some detail -stalking, in person and online -spousal abuse, told in flashback -guns -abduction of children -online harassment, threats, abuse, described in some detail -violence...more
So it's an interesting mystery, and interesting to know that the Kuisls are real. But still not sure why this was called "The Hangman's Daughter" whenSo it's an interesting mystery, and interesting to know that the Kuisls are real. But still not sure why this was called "The Hangman's Daughter" when she was a secondary character with minimal agency, and two ho dear god the content notes. Torture, no seriously, torture, misogyny, classism, violence, murder of children, graphic descriptions of war including brutal killing of an infant, child abuse, kidnapping, rape threats, I'm probably forgetting some. Yeah....more
My child picked this from the library. We got about five pages in, and OH HEY, SUPER RACIST CARICATURES OF AFRICAN PEOPLE hoooooooooly shit. No one thMy child picked this from the library. We got about five pages in, and OH HEY, SUPER RACIST CARICATURES OF AFRICAN PEOPLE hoooooooooly shit. No one thought to, you know, DROP THE RACISM in the reprints? Christ. Although reading the description of the book, I note that OF COURSE the black people are cannibals. OF COURSE. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST THIS IS RACIST.
No, we did not continue reading. Instead we had a toddler-level discussion about racism and why it's wrong. I'm also going to have a word with the children's librarians when we return to the library....more
Can we talk about how sex therapist friend Mel should lose her damn license? And Reid should be disbarred? And how just manipulative and controlling eCan we talk about how sex therapist friend Mel should lose her damn license? And Reid should be disbarred? And how just manipulative and controlling everyone around Brynn is? I want her to move far, far away and get much better friends who won't force and manipulate her in to doing things she said no to because they just knoooooow she really likes it. Brynn honey, sure, you like the kink, but I promise, this dude who lied to you left right and center isn't the only guy who will love you and treat you right. The only person who showed an appropriate response was the owner of the club, who it looked like he was being set up to be the bad guy, but instead was like "look, I appreciate how hard it was to disclose your history to me, and I want to make really sure you're safe".
Never even mind the "plot"! It was just... tortuous and kind of janky and a thin excuse for OOOH, SEXXXYTIMES?
Oh I LIKED this. Sorcerors in Victorian London fighting demons, with a heavy dose of romance and angst? YES PLEASE.
Could have used a better copy editoOh I LIKED this. Sorcerors in Victorian London fighting demons, with a heavy dose of romance and angst? YES PLEASE.
Could have used a better copy editor, but so many books are like that. I did like, however, that there was very minimal info-dumping. I actually rather enjoy being thrown in to things and then getting to slowly figure them out.
CONTENT NOTES (as with all of my content notes, I make my best effort to be accurate and inclusive, but I can't guarantee I have everything here): verbal abuse as backstory; slut shaming as backstory; power play; non-consent (non-sexual) as both back story and current events; emotional abuse; spiteful pregnancy termination as back story; kidnapping...more
I disenjoyed this so much I finished it three days ago and haven't bothered marking it. So much casual ableism and fat hate, a mystery that wasn't at I disenjoyed this so much I finished it three days ago and haven't bothered marking it. So much casual ableism and fat hate, a mystery that wasn't at all hard to figure out, and just bleah. Bleah bleah bleah. What a disappointing end to this series....more
Content notes: there's a sexual assault played for laughs on page 9. I stopped reading after that.Content notes: there's a sexual assault played for laughs on page 9. I stopped reading after that....more
...well there was a lot of imperialist, racist, white dude shit in this one. Also war, torture, outright murder and mass murder, and a lot of violence...well there was a lot of imperialist, racist, white dude shit in this one. Also war, torture, outright murder and mass murder, and a lot of violence....more
I am not allowed to stay up all night and read the next one I am not allowed to stay up all night and read the next one I am not allowed to stay up alI am not allowed to stay up all night and read the next one I am not allowed to stay up all night and read the next one I am not allowed to stay up all night and read the next one I am not allowed
Content notes: active drug addiction; withdrawal; rape and abuse as back story; attempted rape; manipulation; gas lighting; ableist language; slut shaming; gun and knife violence; murder including very gruesome dismemberment; giant ass fire...more
Well. There are certainly some creepy-ass parts. But the explanation and ending are kind of unsatisfying. Also, I cannot stand the character who narraWell. There are certainly some creepy-ass parts. But the explanation and ending are kind of unsatisfying. Also, I cannot stand the character who narrates, with her constant "honey" and smiling.
Better in a lot of ways than the last few - certainly creepier by far. But when we find out more about a character from their brief bio in theLike 3.5
Better in a lot of ways than the last few - certainly creepier by far. But when we find out more about a character from their brief bio in the cheatsheet than we do from the book? Yeah I completely get the criticisms re characterization and character development.
Content notes: kidnapping, violent murder, creepy defiling and torturing imprisonment, horrific accidents and injuries as back story, killing in self-defense, gaslighting, mind control, guns, also deeeeefinitely pro-cop as in "cops all care and want to do a good job and save people and would never shoot unless absolutely necessary". Which, I'm sure there are some like that, but to not even acknowledge reality around that comes off... poorly. Also everyone is white, although it's mentioned that not everyone in town is, for once....more
Content notes: murder (v gory), kidnapping, anti-gay slur (and, credit, one of the main characters calls itWow so THAT took a dark goddamn turn. WOW.
Content notes: murder (v gory), kidnapping, anti-gay slur (and, credit, one of the main characters calls it out as such and goes off on the person using it), break-in, the mob, gory murder as back story, another murder, ableism...more
I mean, it's a cracking good mystery, Saint Just is a glorious pompous ass, all of that, but holy God. Ableism, parental emotional abuse, transphobia,I mean, it's a cracking good mystery, Saint Just is a glorious pompous ass, all of that, but holy God. Ableism, parental emotional abuse, transphobia, murder threats, transphobic threats, a literal "Indian Princess" costume oh my god, slut shaming, murder, attempted murder, hostage taking... wow. It's clear this was written fifteen years ago (and apparently not edited then or now). To be fair, our main characters aren't the ones engaging in the worst, violent trans phobia (but are really awkward about a drag queen and pronouns), but one of them IS in the "Indian Princess" costume and the rest are approving. Also there's an author that in public goes by their pen name, that's the name on their badge, etc. and so on, and our Heroine insists on calling her by the name she no longer uses, to be mean.
Like... there's a lot of things I really like in this book! Snark! Wit! A clever mystery! And I'd like it a lot more if all of the really, really problematic stuff were not here. (And if a copy editor could go over this edition too, because lord.)...more
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