Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Regatul spinilor și al trandafirilor by Sarah J. Maas

217 reviews

bear_ridge_tarot's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

3.0

 This is a very popular fantasy book and I was expected it to be as good as advertised. While ACOTAR was an overall enjoyable read for me, the book had a few very glaring things it lacked. I enjoy a thick book with a lot of world-building, and this one fits that description. There is a rich history in the lands of Pyrthian, that I want to know more. 

But I don't like lackluster characters, and the MCs are lacking in depth. Their relationship also sorely lacks, and while it's obvious to everyone around them it is being forced, the allusion to a Beauty & Beast trope didn't work for me. I found the supporting characters of Lucien and Rhysand were more interesting to me than Feyra and Tamlin. 

This book also comes with a number of trigger warnings for me, including toxic/abusive relationships, ablism, Stockholm syndrome, and violence of multiple kinds. I will at least give the next book a chance to further develop the depths of the characters before washing my hands of the series, because I loved the world the story is set in so much. 

 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body horror, Violence, Body shaming, Classism, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

nyxlexica's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

kaittykatt's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

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

4.5

The last 1/4 of the book is INSANE (in a good way)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Torture

Moderate: Sexual content

smnthstrrlwd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing 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

I am leaving my character/plot question answers as-is. I populated those fields after my first read of A Court of Thorns and Roses but the rest of this review is being written after a re-read of ACOTAR so IYKYK! I feel like I was such a sweet summer child back then (a whole month ago – haha) when I put down A Court of Thorns and Roses for the first time. I loved Maas' series so much that as soon as I finished A Court of Silver Flames I returned to page one of A Court of Thorns and Roses and started the series over. 

All-in-all, Sarah J. Maas has rekindled a dying spark for fantasy novels that was inside of me. As someone who loved the genre as a kid, I don't know what part of adulthood beat that draw out of me, but I am so grateful for SJM's writing which led me to rediscover the genre.

Drawing hugely from Beauty and Beast, while calling on other folktales and fairy tales throughout, A Court of Thorns and Roses has everything a fantasy reader needs to enjoy a well-written story that lays a solid foundation for the rest of the ever-growing series. With an instantly loveable main character and a story that takes off from page one, ACOTAR follows a proven-to-work plot formula that culminates with a dramatic event and ends with a cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting more immediately. 

During my re-read, oh, how my opinions changed. When I first read the book, I flew through it and didn't annotate one page; however, I came armed to my re-read with my tabs and a pen which was an exciting experience. And I love that my experience with the book was completely different.

Tamlin and his character arc fooled me. During my re-read, it stood out that most of the situations Feyre and Tamlin found themselves in that I read as romantic, endearing, or just cute the first time around gave me a major ick. A lot of situations also stood out to me the second time I read the book including the fact that Lucien straight up drugged Feyre when he abstained from telling her about the mushrooms then Tamlin just laid down beside her passed-out body and slept with her in the field. LIKE, WHAT?

 

As I continue my re-read, I am excited to see how my opinions continue to evolve. And I think the ability of a book to do that speaks volumes. It's not just about picking up on small details that I missed during the first read-through but having differing opinions on entire character arcs and plot devices. During my re-read of ACOTAR, I felt like I was reading an entirely different book than I did the first time. And that is proof of a great piece of writing and a talented author.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Death, Murder, and Sexual content

porcupine_girl's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Grief, Blood, Death, Animal death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Classism, Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: War, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Minor: Cursing

jojyking's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Classism, Death, Blood, Slavery, Murder, Toxic relationship, Genocide, and Grief

bi_n_large'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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Bullying, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual harassment, Child death, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

dafne_lh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful relaxing 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

 I cannot believe I did not pick up these books sooner!

Admittedly, I did google if this book was supposed to be based on Beauty and the Beast, since I was halfway through and started making connections. A few other fairytales also come to mind when reading the book, but it is still its own standalone story.

I think the main character is very likeable and even admirable, seeing what she sacrifices for her family. The side characters also go through important character development which makes it even better.

There were some bits I didn't care for towards the end of the book, but it's a new adult romantasy about faeries after all, so I shouldn't be too surprised that there were some elements about the romantic relationships between characters that didn't sit well with me.

Overall, a great story and loveable characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit and Death

Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Torture, and Animal death

Minor: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Sexual content, and Torture

Moderate: Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Death

readbykatherine's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Excrement

Moderate: War, Sexual violence, Torture, Death, Murder, Rape, Ableism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship