Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Lore Olympus: Volume Four by Rachel Smythe

31 reviews

saracat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

There were so many scenes in this book I didn’t remember so I thought maybe book three was where I had dropped off reading the webcomic, but there were also a number of scenes towards the end I remembered clearly. 

I love how we get to see both the compassion of Persephone and her exploring how she feels comfortable showing her anger. 

Apollo is the worst with Zeus behind him - though Smythe does give Zeus some more ‘humanizing’ moments. 

I also really like how she uses Persephone’s physical appearance to reflect her emotions: eye color, hair, etc. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Rape and Toxic relationship

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

 disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial 

I know it's the fourth volume and I know a lot of this is available on WebToon but I wait until I grab these print volumes! However, I am just realizing this is such a character-driven story, and that we are in it for the long haul with these characters. That's not a bad thing, I just was viscerally aware of it as I flipped the pages of this book. I genuinely feel so much for Persephone, as RS really illustrated so many thoughts that survivors replay in their minds here! I felt uncomfortably seen in this, and I want so badly for Persephone to *heal* but I'm simply projecting my own trauma onto her, and it's only been a few weeks so why am I rushing her journey?! I don't know! Because I want her to be okay!

Anyway, I think what I love most about these characters is that even though they are gods, they are all so human and so messy. I love how much they fumble, I love how much they let their emotions get the best of them, and I love how we have to read this story at a glacial pace so that we cannot rush past the development. Thank you RS for both making me ache with discomfort as I want everything wrapped up nicely with a bow, and for illustrating such authentic journeys. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Infidelity

kassidyreads's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse

amandapanda27's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

risten's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility, Blood, War, and Violence

madmadmaddymad's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

I love Ares. He gives me such Cassian from ACoTaR vibes. I especially love the scene where he tricks Persephone to making out with him. It just goes to show, there is such a thing as being a jerk without violating someone’s consent (ahem ahem APOLLO) 

I also love the confrontation with Persephone and Apollo! I think it’s so important what this series is doing in terms of displaying a relationship like theirs. Apollo thinks he’s a nice guy, and that he’s done nothing wrong. It is so vital what Rachel Smythe is doing, because rape doesn’t always look like someone holding a threat of violence over you for it to be rape. I love this comic’s take on this difficult subject, and I love the art, I love the way Persephone’s trauma is always drawn with those discordant music notes, striped across the panel. 

I’m so proud of her for standing up to her rapist. 

This series is such a pleasure to read. I love, love, love the characters, the art, the story, and basically everything there is about it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infertility

celery's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Classism, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Stalking, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical trauma, Medical content, Incest, Blood, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

booksthatburn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Stalking

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, and Bullying

Minor: Physical abuse, Blood, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Infertility, Ableism, Excrement, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.0

This series is such an entertaining one, putting Greek mythology in a more modern setting. The art style is maybe one of my favorite things about it, with the bright colors and the overall formatting. It works well for the subject matter and brings the characters to life.

There's drama, there's romance, what more could you want in a book about Greek mythology honestly? It in itself is all about drama. Definitely will keep reading because it's just entertaining.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Minor: War and Infertility

amylynn44's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse