Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair

14 reviews

tamaraloraine89's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

I really enjoyed the first book but have enjoyed the second book so much more.  The story develops and continues on and doesn't loose out on interesting events like often happens in series where they end up happy together at the end of the first book. And of course, all the spice. Excited to start the next book in the series.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death

Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Kidnapping, Suicide, and Child death

rchulin1's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexism, Grief, Car accident, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Dementia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Cursing, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Violence, War, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Torture, Classism, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, and Confinement

farfromsarah's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I enjoyed this a lot less than the first book, the characters are so whiney and repeat their mistakes too many times for my liking, and some of the plot beats towards the end of the book were way too serious to only be tackled so briefly and then moved on from, it felt like they were only thrown in for dramatic effect and I was not a fan.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Medical content, Vomit, Sexual assault, and Torture

Minor: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Infidelity, and Confinement

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Torture, Alcohol, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, War, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Rape, Abandonment, Stalking, Suicide, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail

scarlett_f's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

3.0

<Disappointing writing. Choppy sentences. Often rushed. It quickly became boring. Persephone would screw up, get mad at Hades, distance herself, then make up with him again.  And the sex/make-up sex became boring pretty quickly. Seemed like every other page was another sex scene, overdone and typical. 
Poorly wrapped up problem with a stalker. Done in less than five minutes, then back to poorly written sex scenes. The first book in the series was better. Very disappointed in the rushed writing. Going to read book three for grins and giggles, hoping it will be better.>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, Sexual violence, Slavery, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Child abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Medical trauma, Self harm, Stalking, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness and Drug use

Minor: Car accident

circe813's review

I can’t handle how stupid Persephone is any more. I may come back to it, but for right now, I can’t stand her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Violence, Body horror, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, and Sexual content

book_s1ut's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

The ending killed me 😭

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Cursing, Alcohol, Violence, Torture, Medical content, Murder, and Emotional abuse

Minor: War, Rape, Suicide, and Sexual assault

firequeen_ash23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

This series so far is really, really good. I love Hades and Persephone so much. Their story, no matter the person retelling it, is a story I can't help but have a special place for it in my heart. I've really enjoyed Scarlett's take on their story so far. 

The author has managed to not just write a retelling of Hades and Persephone, but she's put so many other wonderful God's, Goddesses, and mortals in this series.... which has only made it that much better. Of course both A Touch of Darkness and A Touch of Ruin ended with cliffhangers. Thankfully the first three books are already published so I don't have to wait to read what comes next, but I'm sad knowing that after I read A Touch of Malice, I'll have to wait for A Touch of Chaos. 😫

I really enjoyed this book because it showed such a wide variety of challenges Persephone faced whether it be emotionally, physically or magically. She struggled with every aspect of her life especially in her relationship with Hades, but even with all her struggles and mistakes, she still went through a lot of character growth and maturity. Unfortunately that didn't stop her from all the pain and anxiety she experienced but it did make her more relatable.  I've really enjoyed seeing her grow and become stronger against her mother. She's learning how to control her magic and wield it without hurting herself. 

I definitely enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the book as well. I couldn't believe so much happened and I was literally on the edge of my seat, biting my nails at certain points because so many disasters could have been averted but weren't. I definitely appreciate how well the author paced the story and let things fall into place without rushing the process Persephone and Hades had to go through. I think it shows that even though they're God's, they're still capable of doing things like mortals. 

I highly recommend this series to all my Greek Mythology lovers as well as fantasy lovers. This book has revenge, death, pain, love, sex, passion, heartbreak, forgiveness, and growth. There's something for everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Torture, Misogyny, Suicide, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Car accident

kjperry97's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicide

naaytaashreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

“Create the life you want, Persephone, and stop listening to everyone else.”

I enjoyed this read compared to the first book.
This plotline felt like there was more meat to the content.
The one POV will always bother me in this series; however, it wasn't that bad at times in A Touch of Ruin. The only thing I can't review is Hades's character as there wasn't his POV, so it wasn't fair to judge what he does and says, even though it sometimes annoys me.

The focus of Persephone's growth in this was so good.
I love that she has flaws; she makes terrible decisions and mistakes. Even if we get annoyed and disagree with what she did, the outcome runs full circle, and she grows to learn and her character changes over time.

We get more action and involvement of side characters other than the focus of Hades and Persephone's romance.
I love Persephone is getting friends! I love a good squad and more of them!


“This mortal has distressed you,” Zofie said. “Do you want me to kill him?” “What? No, Zofie. You can’t just kill people who upset you.” The Aegis shrugged. “You can where I’m from.” “Remind me to hide all your weapons,” Persephone said.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, and Mental illness