Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

69 reviews

calyssat's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, War, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Classism, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Blood, Sexism, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Minor: Torture, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-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

2.75

I enjoyed this book a lot more as a re-read, which could've been due to either my lower expectations (in comparison to my first reading of it back in 2020) or a willingness to get swept up in Maas's story despite all the redundant scenes

–e.g. three visits to the Bone Carver in the Prison. Was that really necessary or interesting? I think not.–

and convenient resolutions

–at least 5 different heroes attempt to/succeed in saving the day during the final battle in the final 50+ pages, including Feyre's father, Vassa, Drakon and Myriam, and Amren (who is conveniently unbound from her (im)mortal body, turns out to be this otherworldly angel, then is presumed dead, and finally is reinstated & reborn into her former body by the powers of the Cauldron?...come on, I was trying hard not to roll my eyes at that!). The stakes were so low for this war given that no major characters died (and stayed dead) and the main villain, the King of Hybern, was such a one dimensional mustache-twirling character that the resolution ended up coming across as anticlimactic and not believable

.

Anyway... to go over some of the positive things about this novel, my favorite character interactions or scenes took place between 1) Feyre and the Suriel

–his passing still guts me (excuse me while I wipe my tears), especially as Feyre realizes that he was such a big help to (and dare I say fan of) her. He was definitely a dreamer!

; 2) Lucien and Feyre (only at the beginning of the novel)

, I thoroughly enjoy how she makes it seem like they are having an affair and how she sets her multiple traps up for Tamlin's downfall. Her entire revenge scheme upon the Spring Court is epic, if slightly short-sighted hehe, but fuck Tamlin!

and finally, 3) Nesta and Cassian

–all their reluctant but mutual pining (slow burn much?) and Nesta screaming for him in order to save him from the Cauldron's deadly blast. Although I need a moment of silence please for the 1,000 Illyrians that did not make it. And later, how Nesta held the King's head after the killing blow (*chef's kiss*), thus enacting the promise she made him earlier–with that accusatory finger–right before she was transformed into High Fae by the Cauldron. I was definitely here for that entire scene!

.

I confess, I really do hate Elain. Can somebody explain to me the point of having this inane character??

P.s. My use of the many ellipses, mostly in the spoiler bits, was in Maas's honor ;)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, War, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Violence

aimnorth's review

emotional funny 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

3.5

I feel like the end of the book could have had more development time. There were lots of very big things happening and the stakes did not feel genuine and the consequences were lacking. But over all this book made me fall in love with so many side characters that it's almost obscene. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, War, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

devynvma0508's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book has the most plot development in the series but it is very long. The beginning hooks you in, the middle can be a little boring, but the end of this book is amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, War, Cursing, Violence, Torture, and Death

Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent

Minor: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse

mangofraiche's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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: War

Moderate: Grief, Classism, Death of parent, Child abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, Body horror, Slavery, Animal death, Confinement, Torture, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Cursing, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence

sbordo's review

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death of parent, Death, Murder, and War

Minor: Toxic relationship and Physical abuse

hufflepuff96's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring 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? No

4.75

Great book, pretty typical fantasy. Continuing to read the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Blood, and Death

Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

epointer44's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, War, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Sexual harassment

violentpeach's review

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death of parent, and War

Moderate: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping

kdog02's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol

Favorite book from the series so far!!