Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

148 reviews

hq_reads's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was a fantastic read. Just what I needed to get me out of my reading slump. It was rich in plot within a magical world with an excellent FMC. This adventure was mysterious and high-stakes. I couldn't put it down, each chapter ended with me needing to immediately start the next. 

I had so many theories about the plot and the characters but this book had me mistrusting everything that was happening! I really loved Scarlett and Julian and thought their banter was great. I have some further character thoughts that contain spoilers which I will post below, but overall this book was fantastic. I can't wait to read the next one!

Okay, I was convinced early on that Julian was Legend, so when it was revealed to Scarlett in the dream, I was disappointed... only to find out he wasn't! The reveals in this book were really surprising! I was not expecting Tella to be behind the game as well though. However, the gaslighting that Tella does to Scarlett at the end of the book is so toxic, she's really minimised the role she played in Scarlett's trauma. The whiplash poor Scarlett has... I can't imagine she can move past that so quickly. Anyway - I do not like Tella!

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Death and Suicide attempt

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.25

This book was very much whimsical nonsense tied up in a mystery that was reminiscent of a studio ghibli movie.  You question what is real and what is not, if what has happened actually did happen.

There was enough mystery and world building to keep me interested in reading more, though the characters were a bit one dimensional they managed to hold my attention.

Other books I've read with this vibe did not have strong enough characters to keep me engaged and since this was a debut novel it has a lot of promise for what comes next.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence

avie_j's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Grief, Torture, and Misogyny

Minor: Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Confinement, and Suicide

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Physical abuse

jasminejuly's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Suicide

gretchen_lynn's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The plot twists in this book were excellent and were foretold nicely so that they were believable. The cliffhanger was slight, but not too much, so one could conceivably stop after the first book and perhaps end on a decently wrapped-up ending. It was not everything that I was expecting it to be if I'm being honest, but perhaps that is on me for having the expectations that I did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child death

Minor: Sexual assault and Violence

brandonajhill's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

Caraval starts a little slow but once the mysteries start going it doesn't let up until the end. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Blood, Death, Violence, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Child abuse

Minor: Torture

citrus_tart's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Murder

***SPOILERS*** Brief discussion of rape, although the word “rape” is never used. The main character is told that her fiancé (who has basically taken her hostage) is going to rape her. She has to plan how to get out of the situation. There is domestic violence/violence against women committed against the main character and her sister by their father. There is a part toward the end where the main characters sister commits suicide. Mentions of blood and injury throughout the book although it’s not too graphic.

glorytowers05's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Blood, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abandonment, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol and Torture

kzkoni's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder