Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Four by Ellie Keel

33 reviews

someonetookit's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I can see why people wouldn't like this but I just cover to covered it so it's an automatic 5 star despite its faults 🤷‍♀️

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Suicide

Minor: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Vomit

bookb1itch's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Although this book has some MAJOR red flags - self-harm, suicide, rape - it was engrossing and beautifully fits the Y9 Savage Humans genre study.  It is a disturbing tale, but a lovely exploration of friendship and romantic love.  Boarding schools should be outlawed.  I found myself often wonderinng if this was an "unreliable narrator" story, which added a layer to the mystery.  I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the main characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Minor: Vomit and Suicide attempt

rad_reads_123's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Rape and War

laviniatuck's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.0

I would say definitely more of a young adult for older teenagers 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Bullying

nixbix_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

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

1.0

I didn’t think I’d ever find a book I disliked to the same level as Verity, but here we are.  With a complete cast of entirely unlikeable characters, we meet the four scholarship students as they enter High Realms, a prestigious high school for the elite of the elite.  They soon find that no-one wants them there, including the teachers, and that they will be horrifically bullied.  This does turn into bullying porn because no student is safe at this school; these jackals will turn on each other at the slightest hint of provocation.

Then something happens & one of the head students is hurt because of one of the four, and they make one dumb decision after another, carrying on beyond any version of common sense.  I can suspend belief for plot lines, but this was just some ridiculously contrived BS.  This dragged on for far too long - there was so much that could have been edited out & nothing would have been missed.

I did like the map & the cover is stunning.

Trigger warnings: bullying, sexual assault, mental breakdown, suicide.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Classism

sophiehalliwel's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Alcoholism

therealjessicaaustin_2002's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, and Classism

Minor: Abortion

shadymist's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? N/A

4.5

I enjoyed this book very much. It’s been widely praised on TikTok and I can see why. A fantastic read and hard to put down. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying and Child death

Minor: Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

romy91's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Dark, twisty and emotional.
Some complex and difficult topics explored but with compelling and thoughtful writing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

whatzoreads's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Incest, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Classism