Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

27 reviews

mrsmoger's review

challenging dark emotional tense fast-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Bullying, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Sexism

on_my_bookshelf's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Bullying, Gun violence, Classism, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Hate crime, and Death

bella_cavicchi's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was delightfully twisty, thrilling in both its shock and its dark satire.

And I feel I should note somewhere that I couldn't help but visualise Leighton as Gwyneth Paltrow and I now can't shake that casting (for the inevitable film adaptation) from my head!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death, Classism, Bullying, and Blood

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Infidelity and Vomit

evelynyle_88's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

For my Spooktober read, I finally take this book and read from start to finish. As someone who really love Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, I myself looking for another book who has the same vibes as that one. Dark academia vibes in this book is slightly felt; but this book bring me back when I read Ace of Spades.

Their Vicious Games just a brilliant debut novel that bring crossover between Ace of Spades and Squid Game. I love the plot is truly like the Korean drama Squid Game and with the spices and sprinkles of The Bachelor instead.

I love the story, I love the plot twist that left myself gasp at who were the main villains of this story. From thriller book, I tried to be a detective. Keep guessing and guessing. And my guess was wrong. That's why this book has a brilliant story and plot twist. I love it!

And thanks to Joelle Wellington who is the mastermind behind this book because I can see a Squid Game plot through Their Vicious Games. And of course. I love the ending. I love Adina, Toni and of course... Saint. Thank you, thank you!

5⭐ worthy!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, and Bullying

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Vomit, and Classism

caseythereader's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Gore, Child abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Classism, Grief, Murder, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Gun violence

takarakei's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

Ace of Spades/The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor... in hell.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racism, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Gaslighting, Classism, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol

sarahmcg's review

challenging 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? It's complicated

4.5

Their Vicious Games

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review

This book is described as “Ace of Spades meets Squid Games with a sprinkling of the Bachelor…” I haven’t watched Squid Games, but I agree with the rest, and also add that this book gave me Hunger Games vibes.

The FMC, Adina Walker, is a black teen girl who attended the prestigious Edgewater Academy on scholarship. She gained acceptance to Yale, only to have her offer rescinded over one moment of lost control. She is hoping to regain her acceptance to Yale and the path forward in life she feels she has lost by participating in the Finish - a contest put on by Edgewater’s founding family, the Remingtons. She just needs to make it through the high-stakes competition, and when she wins, she will have the favor of the Remington family and their power and wealth will open doors for her that have been otherwise closed. 

However, upon arriving at the Remington estate, Adina realizes she has been in the dark about how deadly the Finish is, and what the expectations truly are. 

This book had me on the edge of my seat. It moves quickly, is propulsive, and violent. It had me gasping, and gave me goosebumps. The underlying commentary on racism, classism, the patriarchy, and performative allyship was so smartly crafted. This is why people should not underestimate YA novels! This is a horror novel, and satirical at that.

One of my favorite parts of this novel was the friendship between Adina and her roommate, Saint. Also, the ending had me like 🤯

I highly recommend this to those who love YA horror and satire/social commentary, final girls, and fast-moving, high-stakes competitions.

CW/TW: violence including murder, gun violence, blood, injury detail; sexism, classism, racism, misogyny (overt & micro aggressions), and emotional abuse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Classism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcohol and Vomit

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, Bullying, Gaslighting, Death, Violence, Racism, Classism, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Sexism, Alcohol, and Blood

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Xenophobia

Minor: Sexual content and Infidelity

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This book was The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor and everyone is completely UNHINGED.

And I can't decide if I liked it or not lol.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, Bullying, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, and Torture

daniellestarredpages's review

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

2.5

 Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with this book. The synopsis promises Ace of Spades, Squid Games and The Bachelor and to me, this mix of story elements should not have been combined for this particular book. My biggest issue I would say is the romance featured in this story. So Adina is (sort of) stuck between two brothers, the Perfect Second Son who is the prize at the end of the games, who Adina doesn't actually like and the Disappointment of a First Son whom Adina randomly starts having feelings for. The thing is, I didn't believe the romance for a second, it came out of nowhere and there was no real build-up or romantic tension between Adina and Graham (the second son) and since Pierce was really a means to an end for Adina, I see no reason to criticise the writing of their relationship. The author has stated that this book is supposed to be a Satire but I still reserve the right to be annoyed at how often Adina mentions that she's from Suburbia and how terrible that is. I also feel that the book was very slow to start and that did nothing to help the book, it just made the story drag. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, and Racism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Gore