Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos

45 reviews

valentine183's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Classism

dmteralie's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book is really odd but kept me reading. It’s weirdly mundane for a fantasy book. Almost slice of life. I hated most of the characters except the main character. Not in that they were poorly written way but in that they are bad people way. It’s really more about world building than the characters themselves. I finished the book with more questions than answers and honestly excited to read the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Murder, and Toxic friendship

marileen's review

fast-paced

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

0.25

Don't read this book. Waste of your time. Worst book I have ever read. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism

r_gale's review

adventurous tense slow-paced

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

1.0

Read as a recommendation feoma friend Started off really well with intresting characters, lore, and magical abilities and object.

Loved the wimsy of the original setting and characters but soon turned into a court dynamics drama that I just found really long and tiring. 

The main character is made to wade thought endless shit in the journey that is meant to strengthen her in Resolve and character and better explain the working is the world. But just seems like chapters of filler to get the next book workout much pay off. 

Will not bother with the next in the series 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit

harbingermeow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage

hazeyfails's review against another edition

3.5

It took me a while to get interested because everything seems to be going so wrong. It was like reading "a series of unfortunate events" but this at least has a couple lighthearted moments. I almost left it on my DNF pile but decided to give it a second chance and now I think I'll actually pick up the rest of the series. It's dark in the lightest of ways.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

emerentina's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

shaimanshamoon's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A Winter's Promise is an enchanting start to The Mirror Visitor Quartet, filled with rich world-building, political intrigue, and a unique magic system. The protagonist, Ophelia, a quiet woman who can read objects and travel through mirrors, is forced into an arranged marriage with the cold and mysterious Thorn. As she navigates the treacherous court of the Pole, the plot unfolds with slow-burning tension, uncovering secrets and hidden agendas.

The intricate universe of floating arks is vividly imagined, and the magic system feels fresh and essential to the story. Ophelia's character development, from shy and awkward to resilient, is a highlight, while Thorn's layers unravel slowly. The pacing is deliberate, and while some may find the action lacking, the novel's focus on political maneuvering and suspense is rewarding.

Though the relationship between Ophelia and Thorn

develops at a glacial pace (wish they'd fall in love!), their

dynamic adds depth. Thorn's frequent scoffing, like the "he growled" in some
books is funny to me

Overall, A Winter's Promise is a beautifully crafted fantasy that will captivate patient readers.

Rating: 4/5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism

samchase112's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This fantasy opener sucked me in! I was initially intimidated by its size, but soon became drawn into the world and characters and intriguing, twisting storyline — the world-building was definitely the star here, and I loved it! There are certainly some issues, some of which I believe are due to the translation, but I’m intrigued enough to keep reading the series. With all the twists this one took, I have to know where the rest of the story will go!

This was also a company book club pick, and I’m interested to hear what others thought about it. An interesting discussion to be had, for sure!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicide

bag_end_library's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Great world and character building. Was enraptured from the start. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Classism