Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Little Eve by Catriona Ward

9 reviews

akevaa's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Good and creepy. Excellent for the one time, but I think once you know how it all unravels a re-read isn't really in the cards (at least not for me). This is generally how I feel about Ward's works; Looking Glass Sound being an exception where re-reading is an excellent idea.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: War, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Suicide

wyabook234's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Child abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Pregnancy

erinbarr13's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Child abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Animal death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

lizreaderhold's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Abandonment, Animal death, Body horror, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Torture, Abortion, Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Confinement, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

racl's review

dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.25

Sundial again, but on the ocean this time!
Culty, unhealthy family dynamics, beautiful writing, I enjoyed it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Drug use, Blood, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Pregnancy, War, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Rape, and Toxic relationship

grimmwinters's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

A terrific dark tale. It is a promised dark story as is promised. As the reader you are given clues to figure out the mystery of what happened. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Sexual assault

mispaintedlady's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A true gothic tale with an unexpected queer story happening. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Emotional abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Confinement, Rape, Miscarriage, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Body horror, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

seawarrior's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

5.0

Reviewing this several months after I first read it, so I don't remember details. Little Eve is an intensely disturbing gothic work about the horrors of isolation, miseducation and unraveling layers of lies. I found the book difficult to read because of the subject matter, but I was still excited to keep turning each page and learn Eve's fate. The final twist was actually something I was unable to predict, and the haunting characters and atmosphere have stayed with me long after I finished the novel. I highly recommend this book to those who can stomach it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, and Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

Minor: War and Sexual assault

savvylit's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Little Eve is a chilling tale that slowly unveils layer after layer of intrigue. This novel focuses primarily on two things: a distinctly unique cult and the power of sisterhood. Dinah and Eve's relationship is nuanced, believable, and heartbreaking. Their family's religious beliefs are deeply unsettling and unforgettable. The remote island of Altnaharra and its rugged surrounds resonate so strongly throughout Little Eve that the island eventually proves to be its own terrifying character. Overall, this novel is a truly original and fascinating look at a very one-of-a-kind family.

Catriona Ward has proved herself to be a master of the literary thriller. Little Eve is a must read for fans of dark fiction!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and Catriona Ward for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Self harm, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence