Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

368 reviews

lalapaka13's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

I am majorly concerned by the fact that every time I've tried to buy this book I've been pointed to the children's section. This is not a reflection on the book, but now that I've read it I cannot emphasise enough how much this book is NOT for children.

It was DEEPLY disturbing throughout in a way that I'm finding very difficult to describe, I think because there was such an undercurrent of sexual violence on literally every page. There are a number of very graphic sex scenes and SO MANY nipples and like, not in a good way. Huge amounts of the plot hinge on detailed childhood abuse and trauma, as well as violence, cannibalism and disordered eating.

Personally, I thought this book was incredibly well written in a way that made me horribly intrigued. I couldn't stop reading, the same way you can't stop looking at a car crash. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a book that really gets under your skin, I think I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

erks's review against another edition

dark 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

2.75

Not sure what I expected from this book but it was very mid. The protagonist felt very dull even during her major character development points

(also her not getting the final blow on her own father at the end, which would have been a significant character moment? She ends up being saved by a man because feminism)

, and I got bored of reading her pov after chapter 5. Instead I wanted to see narratives from her sisters, heck even her dad, as awful as he is.

Also just not a fan of this writing style, the amount of times the words breasts or seed I read gave me the ick

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Vomit

ska1224's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

mkumar's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

slatereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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 originally rated this a 4 star - but have come back after three months of being totally unable to stop thinking about it to give it a 5 star. I don't know if it's for everyone, but I also need everyone I know to read this book.

At multiple points in this novel I wasn't expecting to rate it so highly. But Reid brings everything together so solidly in the final three chapters that it changes the entire experience - bringing the mystery and overlapping plotlines into a fully formed, clear image, and tying up threads you may even have forgotten about. 

This book grabbed me by the throat and didn't let me go until I was done reading - or even then, as I'm still thinking about it regularly days after finishing it. Marlinchen had this gradual, solid character development arc that takes you almost by surprise when you realise she's no longer the girl you started with at the beginning of the book. Sevas is sweet, and doting, and still complex - despite the book not focusing on him, you feel like you know him, and know that there are depths you don't see, as well. I wish we saw him more, but I understand how the narrative doesn't allow for it. 

I can't wait to reread this and pick up on all the hints and foreshadowing from the beginning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault and Cannibalism

nikenacs's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Self harm, Violence, Antisemitism, and Alcohol

cannibalgender's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Antisemitism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cannibalism

msrae89's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

jeslo's review against another edition

dark

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Cannibalism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Please please please please read with care

aturb92's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A graphically beautiful fantasy horror novel. Reid writes in a folk tale style, and even when I wanted to look away I could not. This book definitely deals with freedom from an oppressive household, and finding oneself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death of parent