Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

77 reviews

cook13m0nst3r's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Classism

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

this book was so well written. usually i don't like historical dramas bit this ripped my heart out (burned it) and put it back in again. simply beautiful

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

andyourstruly's review

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.25

GGtVaV is a very indulgent queer adventure story.  Though the main cast all struggle with their own hardships, external and internal, the reader always knows they'll overcome to get their happy ending, and in that way, despite themes of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and physical/emotional abuse, it feels very light.

The author studied history in university, so a lot of the historical details of events and cultural norms are more accurate than your average YA novel, but there are still glaring blind spots, like the author not being well-versed in clothing culture or that almost every educated person would have been fluent in French in the early 1700s, particularly if they had a French parent.

My biggest takeaway with it was that, as fantastical as so many elements were, it seems strange that the author didn't just ... write an adventure where people happened to be queer or black or women.  It felt like a strange decision to hand-wave away a lot of actual problems they may have encountered but to really spend a lot of time projecting modern-day feminism onto a character from the era and bringing up homophobia and racism that wasn't even always period-accurate.  Fun book, may read the sequels, not so invested that I'm prioritizing it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

3.0

I think there were aspects of this book done really well, but there were also parts I struggled with. I liked the adventure and the character interactions! I really struggled to like the main character... he honestly had few redeeming qualities. And I get that his behaviour and aspects of the facade were due to how he was treated at home and trauma, but it didn't negate the fact that he's pretty shitty to anyone around him. I also think this book could have been edited down - some parts dragged quite a bit. But overall, I'm glad I read it!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Use of the word n*gro multiple times, epilepsy

mothfemme's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

My god, what can I say that I haven’t already screeched about to my roommates, friends, coworkers, and basically anyone who will listen to me?? In no way did I expect to love this book as much as I did. I looked past the heinous cover (crossing my fingers for a pretty reprint one of these days) and borrowed the audiobook on Libby, thinking nothing of it. I’m not typically over the moon for regency romances, let alone YA ones, but this came so highly recommended and it was queer, so I figured I would give it a shot. Reader, you should be the next one to give this a shot!!

The story takes off running immediately with its sarcastic humor and gay yearning, placing us in the perspective of Henry “Monty” Montague, one of the most real and lovable characters I’ve encountered in a long time. Monty is a total slut (affectionate) and always the life of the party, covering up his problems with humor, charm, and alcohol…so much alcohol. He is hopelessly in love with his childhood best friend, Percy, and the boys venture on a tour of Europe to have one last adventure before Percy goes off to law school.

After a social faux pas at Versailles and a petty theft gone wrong, Percy, Monty, and Monty’s younger sister Felicity are caught up in the reluctant adventure of a lifetime, featuring highway men, pirates, a sinking island, and evil noblemen. The delicate exploration of Monty’s trauma surrounding his father and how it has led to his avoidance and various addictions was weaved throughout the plot seamlessly, and added so much depth to this story. No matter how hard you try to run from yourself, your problems will always be right behind you, which Monty learns the hard way.

It really says something about the overall quality of the writing that I’m talking about the romance this far down in the review, but to nobody’s surprise, Monty and Percy’s connection was also phenomenal. Their chemistry was so sweet and so tangible, and never forced or rushed. 

I loved how the “conflict” (I use this word extremely loosely) within the romance wasn’t jealousy or miscommunication, but instead the importance of bodily autonomy and letting disabled people make their own decisions about how they would like to live their lives.

Exciting, endearing, and emotional, this book effortlessly delivers a story that has something for everyone. I will carry these characters in my heart forever, and I can’t wait to read the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

Minor: Vomit

lunamoon62's review

adventurous emotional hopeful sad 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

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexual content

Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Classism

not_another_ana's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

I've always been of the mind that subtlety is a waste of time. Fortune favors the flirtatious.

Henry “Monty” Montague is a rake and a disappointment to his family. He drinks, he gambles, he shirks his responsabilities, and is promiscuos with partners of all sexes. His father gives him an ultimatum right before he goes on his Grand Tour of Europe: conform to the norms or be disinherited from the family fortune. Knowing this is the last time he'll be able to let loose, Monty heads off to Europe with his younger sister and Percy, his best friend and hopeless crush. But the Tour doesn't turn out quite the way he hoped after a reckless decision turns everything upside down.

This is the kind of book that either charms you and drags you into it's own quirky internal logic or completely loses you, sadly I happen to be in the second camp. The plot isn't heavy in the historical accuracy, it's more of a fantasy or a Bridgertonesque alternate universe and I could have looked past that if the characters had grabbed my attention or if the plot was good. Monty is the narrator of this book and I just never liked him. He never got over himself or showed any signs of positive growth nor was he, at least, interesting. Coupled with that is the mess that was the plot. I like to think about this as everything AND the kitchen sink. This book had everything (derogatory). It had aristocrats, robbery, multiple countries, a conspiracy, alchemy, PIRATES, you name it you have it. There was never any space to breathe, to connect with the characters and their actions.

The author should have focused more on the romance. I never cared for Monty and Percy together, in fact I don't think they're good for each other. Too much of their story happened before the book, and what I saw in the plot wasn't romantic. It also rested heavily on the miscommunication trope which is one of my most hated tropes.

For me the moment that made me go yeah no was when Monty basically told biracial Percy to go act like the slaves at Versailles and how that was never really adressed. Like YIKES, that's the love interest??? In general the way race and racism was handled, or not handled tbh, in this book was questionable.

Felicity was fine as a character, even if she came across as a 21st century feminist and not an actual girl in that time period, however I have zero interest in continuing with this series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Alcohol, and Classism

atomicmelody's review

adventurous funny hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Racism

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

elspethmigliore's review

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-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

i really enjoyed this! i’ve read this book around 5 times now because it’s so unique and interesting, and it never fails to impress me. like i was actually obsessed with this book 4 years ago. i will say that the most recent time i’ve read it, i found it to be very difficult to get through and kind of boring, but i think that’s because i know the story so well. 

all of the characters are hilarious and unique and i very much appreciate monty’s growth. i’m excited to finally read the rest of their stories. 

definitely reread material ✅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse and Slavery

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment

hollowhallow13's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism