Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

16 reviews

purplepenning's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Violence, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Sexism, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Body horror, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Classism, Animal death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Outing, Self harm, Vomit, and Xenophobia

Though it's a well-handled journey of healing, a main point of view character experiences significant trauma early in and deals with trauma recovery for much of the book.

kailanlovescats's review

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

Overall fun time. A cozy fantasy romance read for me, but some situations may be too high stakes for others. Nothing too extraordinary happens but the romance was cute and the characters were lovable. The "who is trying to kill the main characters?" plot came second and was a little drawn out. But again, cute overall. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Blood, Homophobia, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Transphobia

The main character is sexually assaulted by his ex, which results in some lingering trauma throughout the book.

he's forecefully kissed, forced to give a handjob, and forced to use his thighs

sabertoothjello's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, Ableism, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Outing, and Blood

Moderate: Vomit, Animal death, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Infidelity

sammuraichan's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Cursing, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Body shaming, Misogyny, Vomit, and Sexism

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Death, Rape, Violence, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gaslighting, Self harm, Animal death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Ableism

Minor: Vomit and Blood

yomuyomub's review

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Stalking, Transphobia, Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence

hwesta's review against another edition

adventurous emotional

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Death, Suicide attempt, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Blood, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol

The book opens with one of the main characters being raped, but follows his healing in a supportive environment

abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Body horror, Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Blood, Confinement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Deportation, Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Misogyny

hamohero's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

Hhhhhhhh

A romance with a lovely blend of action, fantasy, and political intrigue/conspiracy. 

The pining and angst in this story is unreal. I personally don't really care about spicy scenes so I felt like I was third wheeling. (Doesn't help the fact that I also listened to this as an audiobook). BUT STILL FUN! I love me some tenderness. Shout out to relationships where partners are also good pals and communicate!!!

I absolutely adore velasin. He's the kinda character that is basically (and I'm sorry for invoking this meme) seems like a cinnamon roll but can kill you. The world has absolutely battered him but he's still so full of love. (Crying in da club). But he really shines when he pulls that unassuming persona but is actually hardcore scheming. 
Caethari on the other hand is the "looks like they can kill but is actually a cinnamon roll". Such a loving husband, honest, and trusting his husband even when his husband bout to do some questionable things. WhEn HE MAKES AN EFFORT TO ACTUALLY LEARN THINGS ABOUT HIS HUSBAND. (The bar is on the floor). 

The worldbuilding is so rich and fascinating without it being dense and confusing. I genuinely enjoyed all the side characters too. They all felt like fully developed human beings even if we didn't get to see them that much. 

And finally, I want to point out that there is a graphic SA scene right towards the beginning of the book as well as a few suicide attempts/suicidal ideations in the first quarter of the book. We do get to see the character experience healing as we continue on with the story but still, I would avoid this book if reading about it would be harmful to your mental health.

SA scene - in   chapter

2

, starts with the phrase

—and there’s nothing you can say to undo any of it. 

  and you should be safe when it says

“Well!” said a dry, unfamiliar voice. “That’s certainly unexpected.” 

. 

Suicide -  chapter

3  and 9/10

starts with

[Markel was all I had in the world, but if I could no longer afford to keep him, he didn’t deserve to be yoked to me through a loyalty I’d so manifestly failed to deserve.] and safe [Markel clicked his fingers again, just once. I looked up from my scrubbing.]. for chapter 9/10 starts [At that, Cae came bolt awake. Standing silently, he crept to the door and eased it worriedly open.] and safe at [Velasin stared at him, breathing hard] </spoilers>. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Outing, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism and Animal death

zikin's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

5.0

I did not know the plot or summary going into my read but I absolutely adored this book! This story is romantic, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and inspiring. I loved the two main characters, Velasin and Caethari. Both characters had distinct voices and reading from each of their perspectives was a joy. The side characters were well fleshed out and added yet another layer of loveliness to the story. The romance in this is slow-burn and endearing. The pace, to me, was just right and I enjoyed how the mystery element unfolded. There are some scenes that are unpleasant, so please read the content warnings. However, I highly recommend this book. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out and I can spend time with these lovely (albeit fictional) people once again!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Rape, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury