Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Witchmark - Die Spur der Toten by C.L. Polk

10 reviews

kalebd_2125's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

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ktjames1908's review against another edition

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mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.0

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futureofmydays's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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ana_belen_herrera's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I liked the magic system, since is the first book I would have liked to explore of how it works  and also why the war started. 

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ninjamuse's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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criticalgayze's review against another edition

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I always feel bad about not finishing an undersung and much beloved title, and I feel worse here because it came recommended to me as part of a 12 Friends, 12 Books reading challenge. However, I would feel worse about leaving a lackluster rating that affected the overall average in even a marginal way.

I *need* SFF authors, even the ones given less editing and marketing help, to work on this issue of dumping us into story with little or no world-building. I get this flies in the face of conventional writing wisdom, but SFF is a unique genre that needs that work done desperately if you want your reader to understand stakes, which I really didn’t here. Too much was happening, and I wasn’t sure why or why I should care.
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apocellipse's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-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

3.5

i did thoroughly enjoy this book, just felt a little fanfiction-y at times which is not what i was expecting from the outset. also felt like we were juggling a few too many distinct conflicts at times, couldn’t focus on a “main” one really. but i found it really fun to read, so i’m not docking too many stars :-) 
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alphacenterin's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-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

4.0

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llyrian's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

So good it deserves a place in my physical-bookshelf-collection! 
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ehmannky's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious 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

I didn't know what to expect with this book, other than a friend with impeccable taste recommended it. And she did not disappoint. What a beautiful read, and I'm reeling from the tenderness of care Polk allows her characters to express. It's a book about the bonds that bind us, and what willing (Friends, community) vs unwilling bonds (family that doesn't understand boundaries or bodily autonomy) look like on a literal level. The world that magic has built is one built on unfairness and oppression, and when the question of " is this oppression good because of the needs of the many" is offered, the answer unequivocally and loudly "no." 

The emphasis on care and empathy for others, for not turning away, all of that is enough to make me recommend this book. And the relationships between Miles and Tristan was so tender and loving and Miles and Grace brought tears to my eyes because it was a bond of love so strained by power and damaged. 
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