Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal

24 reviews

jnobrien21's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.5

I liked elements of the book, but the resolution was a little disappointing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

maryellen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Blood, Police brutality, Alcohol, Gun violence, and Medical content

jwells's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Enjoyable murder mystery set on a space cruise ship. I don't know why other reviewers have characterized this book as fun beach-read fluff, when so much page space is given to graphic description of chronic pain. I appreciated that aspect, actually. Nice to have a depiction of a protagonist with a disability that severely impacts her day to day life, and yet doesn't prevent her from investigating a mystery (much to her attorney's dismay, lol). 

Also has the following:

• Adorable doggo, seriously
• Nonbinary representation
• same sex relationship representation (minor characters)
• cocktail recipes, alcoholic and not, at the start of chapters

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Police brutality and Violence

Protagonist has flashbacks to an accident, panic attacks, and chronic pain. Her partner is physically attacked, "off screen," while in the custody of security personnel.

jeannis's review against another edition

inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

cowboylikestoread43's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Ableism, Misogyny, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury

lbelow's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

One of the best books I have ever read! 

Phenomenal disability rep for a character with agency? Check. 

An adorable service dog? Check. 

A swoon-worthy love interest? Check. 

Interesting world building and futuristic technology that seems grounded in reality? Check. 

World building that centers gender-neutral language (joyfriend, spouse) and assumptions (Mx., they) until informed otherwise as part of a naturalized pronoun introduction? Check. 

A murder mystery with twists that kept me guessing and turning the pages? Check. 

Honestly, this book has it all! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Alcohol, Blood, Violence, Death, Murder, Mental illness, and Kidnapping

Minor: Physical abuse, Ableism, and Sexism

The graphic kidnapping is actually

dog-napping

(there isn't a tag for that) but there is also mention of kidnapping. PTSD, including panic attacks and flashbacks, is a prominent part of the book.

richael's review

adventurous mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Violence

saatkinson's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

astropova's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

Loved it! The setting was so cool and the mystery/investigation had so many twists and turns.

Though I was starting to get a little annoyed with Tesla constantly bulldozing over people - like I get that you don't trust the security officers, but you should at least listen to your own retired detective spouse, since knowing how this all works is his literal job. There were so many moments when "very smart" Tesla was missing something important while she was ranting at people. And then she gets self-conscious about not acting "too privileged" - you either do or don't care how you appear, you can't have it both ways. It felt a little disingenuous and annoying, since otherwise she was such a cool character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood

Minor: Police brutality, Sexual content, Ableism, and Kidnapping

never_enough_bookmarks's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Ableism, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Gore, and Drug abuse