Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Misrule by Heather Walter

4 reviews

princess_sara_sparkles's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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

4.75

Great duology and story. Heart-wrenching the whole way through 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Classism, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Torture, Abandonment, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Toxic relationship, and Violence

quitegood's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I have to say that once its all been said and done, I did enjoy my time with duology. There's certainly many ways the books could be better, but I believe the author's intention was to write about the trauma of abuse, and how the can end up swallowing you whole if you're not careful. I myself am a survivor of constant bullying in school resonate with Alyce, and seeing her stumble way throught the maturation one needs to go through in order to get over the bullying was equal parts inspiring and frustrating. And I fully believe that frustration was intentional, because it can be difficult to help someone with trauma. You're brain is like that of a teenager; illogical and regressed. Outside obersevers can see so many paths to a better you, but you as the victim see them all, and the indecision can be crushing! 
If I was to offer literary criticism, I'd ask for more world building. I can't place my finger on it, but the world didn't feel rich enough. It felt like I was reading a text book at times, as opposed to a narrative. Maybe the author was going for a more magical realism vibe, but considering large plot-points hinge on how the magic works in this world, it reading less like an instruction manual might have helped. I also feel teh characters were a little inconsistent. Their logic didn't quite work, and while yes, its a story about victims of trauma and how you can't think straight, the book would spell out a character's internal logic, and then they'd act completely against it. 
All that criticism aside, I did like the ending. No spoilers, but it was a refreshingly real ending what wasn't bitter sweet. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Gore, Murder, Mental illness, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

scifi_rat's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Plot: 3.5 ★
Prose: 4 ★
Pace: 3 ★
Concept/Execution: 4 ★/3★
Characters: 3.5 ★
Worldbuilding: 3.5 ★
Ending: 3.5 ★

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Confinement, Bullying, Hate crime, Murder, Death, Grief, Slavery, and Blood

Minor: Gaslighting, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

booksthatburn's review

The first one wasn't really my thing, and I think I don't like "will they get back together" plots where their original romance was brief and one person truly became awful in the meantime. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Self harm

Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Gore, Blood, War, Physical abuse, Confinement, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Torture, and Slavery

Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Child death