Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

40 reviews

bree_h_reads's review

dark emotional sad slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Self harm, Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Sexual content

ksilvio's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

delta1juliet's review

Heavy handed metaphor overshadowed the story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

laurenju90's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Minor: Death of parent

kimapede's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing and Terminal illness

Minor: Alcohol

dogoodwithbooks's review

dark emotional 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

4.5

In this YA urban fantasy debut set in an alternate universe Washington D.C., humans and witchchers have been at odds for decades. At the heart of our story features Venus Stoneheart, a witcher love brewer, who is thrust into a world of D.C. politics to stop an anti-witcher law from being passed, while also looking to avenge her mother’s murder. 

The Poisons We Drink is such an engaging read with parallels to current issues facing society today, as shown in Baptiste’s world-building for this book. I felt that Baptiste did a good job highlighting the various aspects of the withcher world and how that intersects in the human world (though it is considered an alternate universe). Additionally, I liked the character development in this book, especially when we get to see the conflicting values facing our characters, especially for Venus, as they try to decide what’s worth fighting for and the blurry lines that comes with power. Yet, at the focal point of the story, Baptiste illustrates the power of love as a call to action. 

Overall, I can see a successful career for Baptiste after reading The Poisons We Drink. If you want a YA fantasy with a morally grey MC and their complicated family relationships, political intrigue, and how love influences our actions, I definitely recommend checking out this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Police brutality, and Murder

Minor: Child death and Vomit

peachylite's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

Let me start by saying if you read this, I highly recommend the audiobook because the narrator is phenomenal. The way she does different voices throughout the book really pulls you into the story and the world that Baptiste has created. Great job all around!

The story itself is dark and twisty, with an interesting magic system set up in a modern society. There is a bit of a political intrigue, though I was more interested in the family dynamics and how those relationships played out in the book. I do think it is a little on the long side, but that might have been more of an editing choice.

If you like darker, urban fantasy with family drama and complicated politics, this is definitely the book for you! The plot twists will definitely keep you guessing up until the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Hate crime, and Vomit

riverlasol's review

adventurous challenging dark hopeful tense fast-paced

4.0

this was a powerful debut about magic, discrimination, and family bonds. i did get a little lost with some of the world building moments but it was WORTH IT 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent

mackayla_carmichael's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Death of parent