Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal

25 reviews

briely's review against another edition

Not invested in the mystery, don’t care for the main character. Mostly very frustrating to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Alcohol

librarybribery's review against another edition

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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Chronic illness

Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism and Sexism

There are murders that take place on the spaceship, but not in view and descriptions are mild. The main character suffers from panic attacks and chronic back pain due to

an explosion that killed her coworkers that she blames herself for

. I thought it was portrayed compassionately and shows the character's strength, but you do see things directly from her point of view during these moments, and they repeat throughout the book.

trips's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This was the most okay-est book I've ever read.

I enjoy the mystery genre and love sci-fi, so I thought a combo of the two would make a for a great read. I appreciated the disability representation in Tesla, and her westie Gimlet was obviously so cute, but I think that's kind of where my genuine praise for the book ends.
The plot was interesting enough to keep reading and the prose is perfectly good, but there really wasn't any point where I was wowed or ultimately, truly intrigued. Like, this is a mystery novel I should at least have a bit of curiosity towards who the true culprit is!
The security on board Tesla's cruise ship to Mars was laughably incompetent to the point of disbelief and Tesla's husband doesn't really have much character imo. It was frustrating how Tesla actively would think "I just want to be normal and not famous and rich" and then use her fame and wealth to get what she wants all throughout the book.

Actually, I think that was my main problem, tl;dr book is fine except Tesla turned into kind of a Karen one too many times for me. Even when she was justified in her outrage, it just didn't hit well. Alas! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Body horror and Violence

Minor: Misogyny and Ableism

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

jupitermond's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Murder

Moderate: Police brutality and Medical content

Minor: Kidnapping

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.

katievh's review

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Ableism, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Classism

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

sheepeeh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Sexual content

Minor: 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