Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

18 reviews

abbyweber's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

This was a great start to the duology. The world building was clear and the characters so well developed. I’m just glad I don’t have to wait for the second book to come out because that was quite the cliffhanger! I can tell the author took the time to develop this story. The care and attention she gave to the characters and their roles to the story is evident and I really appreciate that. This, my friends, is how you write a gothic fantasy romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Blood, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Sexual content

kaylamullarkey's review against another edition

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Murder, and Terminal illness

meganpbell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

This popular gothic fantasy has some killer cards to play, with a unique card-based magic system, a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, and a fantastically sinister monster living inside our heroine’s head. While the YA/New Adult prose didn’t always work for me and the first half is very slow to start, the world-building and plot made up for it. That said, I think I’ll wait till October to read the sequel for all the spooky gothic vibes.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Medical content, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent and Child death

bee12345's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Mental illness, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Gore

mzquirk's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Bullying, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence

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

edilyaaang's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Easily 5 stars.

It was a little confusing at the first few chapters because of the world building. But when you get past that, it will take your breath away.

This had me at the edge of my seat, holding my breath the entire time. How the story unfold was perfection. I didn't even expect to cry but I did at the last part. 

This was a very great read to start the new year and I can't wait to read the second book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Animal death

pookiee's review against another edition

adventurous tense slow-paced

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

4.0

the first YA and fantasy book i’ve enjoyed in a loooong time.

the magic system being like TCG/cards is so unique and gives me life! def the best part of the book. and the Nightmare is like Venom.

i really like how abandonment and finding a family elsewhere are portrayed. the romance is typical but nice.

this was going to be a 5! but the book drags in the last part and doesn’t conclude, just sets up a sequel—which makes me not want to read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Blood, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Torture

Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Vomit

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book. It pulled me in very quickly to the world and the story, and I liked how dark and unique it is. The magic isn't like magic systems I've encountered before. This was the second card magic book I've read and I'm learning that's a magic I quite enjoy! The addition of the folklore and stories was fantastic. And the characters? I love them. All of them. They are morally grey and complex and interesting. I cannot wait to read the sequel with that ending!!! Some very good twists.

Definitely recommend for people who like darker fantasy with interesting magic and some romance. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Blood, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Death

Minor: Death of parent, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Sexual content

kirstenf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Grief, Child death, Murder, Violence, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Death

Minor: Emotional abuse and Alcohol