Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

88 reviews

kiwij96's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense 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

Good, solid worldbuilding alongside character development. From the first page, you know exactly who the main character is and why she does the things she does. Sometimes heavy on the symbolism, but I cannot fault the pacing, the twists, the characters, the romance and friendships that seemingly blossom naturally. Nothing in this story feels forced. Poldi and Ragne honestly have my whole heard, and Barthl is on track to be up there as one of my favourites if he appears in the next book. It was genuinely such a delight to read, but it was also so genuinely heartbreaking at the same time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism, Grief, and Body horror

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Injury/Injury detail

abby_can_read's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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? Yes

4.0

📖
This book lived up to my expectations. I had a wonderful time reading it. The characters were well-developed and I liked the various relationships. I liked the relationship between Vanja and Emeric. The worldbuilding was good. The plot was a little predictable, there were a few twists that I didn't see, and the writing style was good. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Physical abuse

Minor: Animal death

amyteurhour's review against another edition

3.5

Content warning: abandonment, child abuse, neglect, rape, classism, toxic relationship, panic attack

The pacing felt a bit slow and dragged out for me, but overall a decent amount of angst. I wish the friendship between the Goose Girl/main character and the bird girl were more developed. The bird girl's relationship felt kind of instalove. I did check out Book 2, but haven't gotten around to it/made it a priority to read, make of that what you will. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship

zannayo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Emotional abuse and Body shaming

kourteb's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

“Little thieves steal gold, and great ones steal Kingdoms, but only one goes to the gallows.”

Easily 5 stars. Officially my favorite book. Vanja I will defend you WITH MY LIFE. If Vanja has no supports I AM DECEASED. The queerness is this world is so incredibly beautiful, words cannot describe how seen these romances make me feel. Vanja’s hurt is so heartbreaking but her strength and character development is such a heartwarming experience.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Grief, Body shaming, and Abandonment

bequavious's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Animal death, and Sexual assault

alexiatormen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.0

The humor wasnt always for me, sometimes it broke the imersivo but still its a great book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Child abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Sexual assault

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Death

tranquilitea's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse

Minor: Body shaming

blewballoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Normally I struggle with books where the main character, especially if you're in their perspective, is unlikable. I found Vanja compelling despite her severe flaws, and I had a feeling I'd enjoy following her character journey. I was right. I also found myself getting very immersed in the setting and growing mystery. I loved the group of characters that came along for the ride and pushed Vanja to grow. I felt like the ending was rewarding as it brought different plot points together. I enjoyed the portrayal of the gods. I found myself giddy to read more, and it's that excitement to get back to the book that made me rate it 5 stars. I listened on audiobook and the narrator was great. I was a little worried because the only other book I had listened to narrated by Saskia Maarleveld was one I didn't enjoy, but the problem clearly wasn't the narration. This book is technically the start of a series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone in my opinion.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, Blood, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, and Body horror

Minor: Vomit, Sexual violence, Animal death, and Sexual assault

peskilanim's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Rape, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

Minor: Misogyny, Body shaming, and Animal death