Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

73 reviews

anntharai's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Self harm, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Xenophobia, Vomit, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Death, Sexism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cannibalism, Classism, Confinement, Eating disorder, and Medical trauma

tifftastic87's review against another edition

I read the main content warnings and thought I could handle this one. However, I never saw mention of all of intrusive thoughts regarding Marlinchen's body image as well as her eating disorder. Some of her thoughts are really too similar to mine about myself such as

thoughts of cutting off parts of her body that she hates

 
If you plan on reading it, look at the whole list of content warnings not just the top three. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Body horror, Body shaming, Grief, Fatphobia, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

Graphic depictions of binging and purging, graphic descriptions of intrusive thoughts of extreme self harm

buud_w0rm's review

adventurous dark inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This is a really enjoyable read like everything about it I enjoyed. They’re so right about the TWs tho cuz wowwwww

When I found myself wishing for the MC to have more back bone, I realized I was mirroring her sisters. I also struggled with my emotions and opinions being silenced and demeaned growing up. I empathized  alot for Marlinchen and her mouselike demeanor. Mostly because I grew up w a narcissist in the house as well. Thankfully he didn’t have magic or else, I might’ve been as hateful and angry and undine or conniving as Rose.  Growing up in such an oppressive household, being verbally, emotionally and physically abused constantly, everyone berating your looks and comparing you to your sisters. No one is kind to you so you’re the kindest 💔💔💔 Marlinchen DOES deserve happiness. I’m so so so happy she and Sevas left to start a life far far away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, and Gaslighting

This was definitely dark. It fits October. AGAIN CHECK TWS I BEG

nicolescottwv's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Cannibalism, Gore, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Vomit, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia

Minor: Death of parent

jamilahh's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.0

4.5, this was so messed up in the best way

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Pedophilia, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, and Death

thechaoshour's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

 I’m not really sure what to think of this book. I loved that it was a dark fairy tale but the plot was messy and confusing so I never really knew where things were going. Nothing really made as much sense as it should have. I might have been able to ignore that but this book was weirdly sexual for a fairy tale. I don’t think I’ve ever read about a women’s breasts this much from a female author. It was a little weird and very off putting. I could have used some trigger warnings at the begging to prepare myself for all of it, including pedophilia. It was beautifully written but that didn’t hide the serious flaws. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Racism, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Death, Child abuse, Alcohol, Confinement, Murder, Body shaming, Alcoholism, and Sexual content

avertacnik's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

This is so sick and f***ing twisted!! No seriously, this book was dark and graphically so. It was smart and heavy on the dark fairytale atmosphere. I really enjoyed it, but if you have childhood trauma like I do be prepared that it’s an emotional rollercoaster!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Blood, Child abuse, and Torture

zoeblair17's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

Literally ALL the trigger warnings! Not a story for the faint of heart but that warning speaks so highly of the writing! Not usually a horror/dark fairytale gal but the way the author tells this story is immersive and captivating 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexism, Addiction, Alcohol, Confinement, Sexual assault, Grief, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Self harm, Animal death, Death, Eating disorder, Racism, Vomit, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism

carolined314's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Dark fairy tale retelling with tons of trauma

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Confinement, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual assault, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Ableism, Child abuse, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Violence, Sexual content, Body shaming, Blood, Animal death, Murder, and Pedophilia

Minor: Death of parent

purplesapphire's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.25

eeededeathxsexI enjoyed this one better than the wolf and the woodsman. She seems to be better at keeping to a more contained setting where it can become its own character, rather than trying to do a sprawling adventure epic. That seems to be a common consensus. Some common comments I see I do not agree with is the hate against the depictions of abuse and graphic content. Just say you don't understand and move on. Was it perfect? No. But that was a pretty good depiction of toxic relationships, emotional manipulation & abuse, physical/sexual abuse, etc. It shows the impact it can have on victims.

Also, yes it had near constant sexual undertones and some heavy handed depictions of positive and negative sexual interactions, but take away the magic aspect and this is just a story about overcoming abuse. I don't like all the slander against the way she depicted everything, because overall it was a good story and for all the horrible things that happen through it all the ending made up for it. 

The cannibalism was a little much for me but certainly fit into the narrative and the super dark tones that were rampant through the book. I liked the mystery and reveal about her father and herself being the monsters.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gore, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Confinement, Child abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Death, Vomit, and Death of parent

Minor: Pedophilia