Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress

26 reviews

baileyk123's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

CW: insects (just 1-2 scenes)

sjanke2's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.25

 RIYL: campus novels, the art world, the haves and have nots, bisexual love triangles, Occupy Wall Street, adjectives

Casting: ironically, Phoebe Bridgers as Karina and Daisy Edgar Jones as Louisa 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Dementia, Toxic relationship, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Drug use, Grief, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Mental illness

bella_cavicchi's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I wish I could say my enjoyment of SIRENS & MUSES was surprising, but it quite honestly focuses on everything I love: art and nature, coming of age, existence in the recent but not the present, etc., etc. This was a read I savored, and I'm already looking forward to Angress' sophomore novel, whatever it may be about (!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Rape, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Suicide attempt, and Sexism

eman1223's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense 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

4.0

I loved it so far. I’m just a little busy rn and hope to pick it back up again soon

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Rape

exeuntomnes's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

I just finished reading this book on a rainy night. I can't truly know how to explain how this story made me feel. But I will try.

Sirens and Muses has the perfect atmosphere for a story set in the world of art. 
The story follows four different points of view: Louisa, Karina, and Preston, all art students at an elite art school called Wrynn, and Robert, a sulky art professor. We accompany the students throughout their complicated relationships with each other and their dedicated art practices as everything slowly begins to tear apart around them. 

This book was both appealing and thoughtful. I really enjoyed the exploration of art, power, youth, and class; it was truly a page-turner from the start. Angress explores each character's personality in a truly unique way and how they are able to relate to their peers and the world around them. 
The way each story of the characters masterfully intertwine felt entirely real and fascinating.

This story deeply moved me. I can't truly explain why. I loved the flawed characters, the longing to create something worthwhile, and the messy relationships that truly despict what it is to be part of the art world, the sensitivity and the self-doubt that this entails. 

To be honest, the only thing I could say I didn't like or enjoy as much as the rest of the book was that the ending felt a bit rushed, but it was exciting and lovely to be able to read those last passages, which ended the story on a beautiful bittersweet note.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Classism, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Vomit

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

Thanks to Random House for the free advance copy of this book.

 - SIRENS AND MUSES is atmospheric, enveloping the reader in the characters' art world bubble.
- It's got a touch of Donna Tartt to it, with the wealthy college students getting wrapped up in each other and their studies, and I think anyone who has ever been in an art program (hi, me) will find some aspects of the story highly, maybe uncomfortably, relatable.
- This book gets really deep into questions about what and who is art for, and while the fine art vs the internet throughline could have been trite, I think it was pretty well done. Additionally, the bits about how so much art has simply become items for wealthy billionaires to trade around...whew. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Vomit