Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

52 reviews

sophs_mood_reading'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

When men want power they will do whatever it takes to get it. This is what the shepherd king did, and now the people of blunder suffer centuries (I think) later. 
We meet Elsbeth, cursed with the infection and possessed by a creepy nightmare beast/man, let’s just say life’s complicated. 
For years she’s stayed hidden from those hunting the infected but then on one fateful day (courtly ball) she finds herself suddenly face to face with the man who is in charge of ridding the world of the infected (yup not great), and yes he is handsome and broody with some mysteries of his own (well hello captain). 
Thus we start a tale of two sworn foes thrown together to help save their world. But of course they both have secrets they are yet to share. 

I have to say I love me some ye old- timey fantasy/ magical books. We have kings, castles, curses, heroines and a broody MMC who I am sure is a spitting image of Henry Cavil 🤣. 

There was a great unique magic system and it was a fun way to see the price paid for using magic and how it is wielded. 

Pet peeve of course is a cliffhanger where there is no resolution to the story and you need to read the next book. But I will happily do this as it was great. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit

Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent

missgarceau's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

What a horribly cruel cliffhanger ending!!!

I recommend waiting until the series is complete tbh.

The magic system is fascinating & the lore is intriguing. It’s like a dark and twisted fairytale full of riddles & rhymes. An epic quest full of shock & horror and a sprinkle of slow-burn romance.

It’s not FTB but the spice is mild. 

Idk if this is categorized as a romance, but unless there’s an HEA- I might trash it in my fury & rage! I am REELING after that ending!! Toddler tantrum level 3000!!!

Caveat emptor. Buyer beware. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Abandonment, Body horror, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Torture, and Toxic relationship

lycheeteareads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Minor: Abandonment and Child abuse

moonchild_cos's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Body horror, Death, Alcohol, and Cursing

miraclesnow's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The Nightmare

is what made this book for me, along with a few thematic and atmospheric elements being done exceedingly well. It was indeed lush for what I would feel is a good YA story. 

It was small things but ‘trade me masks’ vs ‘trade masks with me’ little sentences like this really bothered me grammar wise and kept it from becoming a full 5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent and Animal death

tpsebast92'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Blood

Minor: Abandonment, Death, and Sexual content

clairew97's review

dark funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Classism

saric7's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent, Violence, and Confinement

pvbobrien's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, and Chronic illness

Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

casideea's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

I purchased this book from one review I saw and didn’t think much of it. After finishing this book, it amazes me that it isn’t trending!! This book blew any expectations out of the water. 

The world building is slightly confusing at first, with so many things to remember (the cards and what they do), but sucked me in from the first chapter. 

Elspeth and Ravyn… I mean they are made for each other. But I loved every side character and I cannot wait until the next book. 

PLEASE READ IT!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Violence

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Abandonment