Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

94 reviews

elaineharlington's review against another edition

challenging inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow. I’ve read her debut adult novel before and was disappointed. It had a great premise, but the execution was just a little bit off. This on the other hand, blew me away. Or to be more apt in theme with the book, it swept me away. What an amazing standalone, that interrogates misogyny in academia and in society, prejudice, and somehow also tackles the subject of how sexual assault is often covered up or hand waved away by blaming the victim. The romance is actually very believable and incredibly healthy. The character of Effie growing into her own is wonderful. Though I saw the twist ahead of time it was still satisfying when it was revealed. I’m truly impressed at this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

booklizard_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Mental illness

poempelnator's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

This book is wonderful, if it had been advertised correctly. The book I prepared for, was not the one I read. It took me about 1/3 to shrug of my expectations and then Effy got me.
She's almost insufferable in the beginning. Very unlikable. And then you get some side story's about her and you don't know what to do with them and why they're here. Because we're reading a fantasy mystery enemy's to lovers, right?
No. The fairy fantasy and the mistery are merely a vessel.

This book felt to me like a woman sharing a heartwrenching truth about being a women now as well as hearing about women in history. Misogyny, self doubt and what it does to us. Giving a beacon of hope, what we can do if we want to and will.
It's about the people we praise in society bc of some image we have. How it crumbles if we get to know sth about the actual person. How we handle art and it's meaning to us, how reality can hurt and to loose our projections.

This book would've been a lot. And it would've been great. If we'd talk about what it truly is.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse

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

4.5

Great atmosphere, a little bit predictable at times, but overall a great story. I liked how the book combined the real world and magic/fairy tales, although I was left a bit confused by certain things.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Sexual content, Child death, and Colonisation

iridescentkila's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Bullying

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

_diana_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Kidnapping, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Mental illness, and Child abuse

imskylow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

This is an allegory of what it’s like as a young woman being taken advantage of by an older man. It’s about healing and trusting yourself, learning you aren’t alone and that it isn’t your fault. This book is a lightly fantastical, dark academia with gorgeous imagery of the sea, the rain, and the feeling of drowning in trauma (without necessarily being specific). There’s romance but it’s slow burn. I really liked the plot and the over all cold, wet, and dreary vibe to it but the story wasn't exceptionally gripping or intense. It was more poetic and symbolic than anything. I'm not sure I would have liked it as much if I hadn't listened to the audio book and had the names pronounced for me. Listening also helps the story progress a bit quicker than it would have taken reading the text.
If you have the patience to work through the book, I recommend. Just don't expect a fiery and intense romance. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child abuse

graceislost's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Child abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

daylajane's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Abandonment, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse

exc3lsior's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse