Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

56 reviews

yvonne_cl's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

maybelisa's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

micahgerst's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

3.75

The book itself is a lovely way of revisiting the tale of Cinderella. The characters in the book are fantastic, and it was amazing to see LGBTQ+ characters in a fantasy setting. However, I noticed a few things which made this book less enjoyable for me. While there is nothing wrong with encouraging rebellion, standing up for oneself, and getting out of toxic relationships, by frequently returning to this theme I felt like I was being preached at which wasn't a great feeling. It was a lovely read overall and I might feel differently about it if I read it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

ellaaj's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

moka's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

kayande910's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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? N/A

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood

lish_e's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

3.5

“And you’re not lost?” 
 I think for a moment. “Maybe I am. But the difference is that I want to be found. I’m not happy pretending everything is fine when I know it’s not.”
 “And just who is it that you suppose will find you?” Amina asks. “It’ll be me,” I say. “I will find myself.” 

There isn’t really a lot of romance in this story, but it didn’t bother me personally. Still, I would have liked more discussion about sexuality at some point. The rules of the kingdom are not only sexist but also homophobic. Multiple characters in this story aren’t straight and it would have been nice to shed a light on that at the end when new laws are enforced. 
I would have liked to read more about Manford’s motivations and his character. With this depth it could have been a much more complex story. 
Sophia also hides a dagger in her dress and attends a cotillion, I know some people really love that trope.

But still, I think the story has an important message.
To raise your voice is a hard thing to do in a society where women are not seen as equal by a lot of people. And it makes you sad, because some of the situations described are not only in this pages, but reality for some women or people who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. 
Also the cover is absolutely gorgeous. 

 “Do not be silent. Raise your voice. Be a light in the dark.” 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, and Trafficking

Minor: Animal death

buywood's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

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

4.5

I absolutely loved this book, the only thing was the writing style sometimes (only sometimes, mostly it was fine) made the flow a bit strange, but the actual content of the book more than made up for it. I would definitely recommend it!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Sexism

Minor: Rape, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Trafficking

chloes_home_library's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder

nerdybirdy101's review against another edition

mysterious

4.0

Absolutely loved this Cinderella retelling and thought it was spectacular. We have a world where women are second-class citizens and are expected to follow in Cinderella’s footsteps to find true love at the ball and make her future husband happy forever. The men have all the power. The girls have 3 chances to go to the ball and usually if they are not picked on the second chance, they were sent away to work. It was important to look your best for the ball and to attempt to get a good husband, but there are issues that the parents of the girl must agree to the exchange of their daughter and fees must be exchanged. We follow Sophia who is upset and enraged with how their kingdom is run, she wants to change. She thinks the ball is stupid and is frankly not interested in marrying a man, but instead a woman. Well, we join Sophia in her attempt to change the kingdom and dethrone the king.

I thought this was an amazing book and loved how the fairytale was mixed in with the misogynistic kingdom. I figured out pretty quickly what our villain was doing to extend their life, but I did not figure out how or why it was that way. I think this was a good solid 4 star read for me because I was able to find some of the plot patterns. I definitely think this would make a fabulous movie. Definitely recommend this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship