Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

39 reviews

laurenbrennan's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Honestly this book had me completely ENRAPTURED. I felt differently about this book than I’ve felt about ANY book in a LONG time. I can’t remember what twist of fate made me bump it to the top of my TBR on a whim but I feel lucky to have had it!! I feel like it changed my brain chemistry.

It took my breath away, MULTIPLE times. Plot twists, 10/10…never saw a single one coming. The poems? Bone-chilling, jaw dropping, timed absolutely PERFECTLY to just blow your mind and drive home the plot. Goosebumps.

I’m really amazed at the author’s ability to build an insanely intricate world and culture based in a completely unique concept…but it’s not the type of feeling you get with so many other fantasy novels. You know what I’m talking about; when you recommend the book to someone else and you feel compelled to say “welllll…there’s a LOT of world building, but once you get through that, the book is amazing.” It felt like this whole world just…existed. From the very first page.

Usually when I get behind on a current read, I feel upset. Anxious, pressured, whatever that feeling is. With this book, I kid you not, I was completely content, with the knowledge that taking little breaks just meant I got to spend more time appreciating reading the book for the first time. I was savoring it, and I feel like I’ve not done that in a long time. Especially not when there’s another book out to further the storyline waiting for me!

I got chills, my jaw came unhinged; I don’t even know how else to describe this book.

No notes.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse

thecasestudyofmylife_'s review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• 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

Minor: Violence, Bullying, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Blood, and Child abuse

emsavors's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Police brutality, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Mental illness, Cursing, Death of parent, and Forced institutionalization

bag_end_library's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Murder, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Death, and Child abuse

karapillar's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Medical content, Body horror, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Abandonment, Murder, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

roseleebooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book has such an enjoyably dark atmosphere and unique magic system. I read the last 75% in one day because I could not put it down! The ending was an excellent setup for the next book.

The reasons I didn't give 5 stars:

Hauth just did not cut it for me as a villain, very one dimensional and predictable. Also, the reveal of the Nightmare's identity was a bit obvious and it seemed like it would have been figured out much earlier by Elspeth.

These were fairly minor but annoyed me quite a bit since the rest of the book was so well done.

I immediately picked up the next book, glad I started this after the sequel was released!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Alcohol, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse

aj_langley's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, and Murder

naomi_k's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Violence, Murder, Blood, Mental illness, Torture, Terminal illness, and Death

Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Body horror

Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Death of parent

katievallin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Abandonment, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Terminal illness, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Sexism

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Rating: 5/5 stars

Elspeth Spindle lives with a monster inside of her head…but when she’s pulled into a mysterious and possibly treasonous plot, the monster might be exactly what she needs.

I LOVED THIS. The magic system is a bit complicated so it was a slightly slow beginning as I got my sea legs in the world, and then I absolutely fell in love—the plot, the characters, the world, all of it. I am so so excited to read Two Twisted Crowns (and alas I have finished it before I even post this review, oh well).

The ending of this book gave me actual chills, and I screamed and gasped and squealed so many times at so many different parts. I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.

HUGE thanks also to my buddy read crew and to my friend Alx for gifting me this one and for being the champion this book deserves.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: Gothic fantasy; Tarot cards; found family vibes

CW: Blood/injury/violence; child death and abuse and mentions of death of parent

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent