Reviews tagging 'Cannibalism'

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

411 reviews

beckzareads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was quite a read. I was definitely not warned ahead of time of how dark this book was going to go. And maybe my view of what horror is is skewed.

Overall, the insta-love (lust) was what had me a bit off with this story. I feel perhaps a more of a build up could have happened because the two characters Sevas and Marlinchen really are who each other needs.

I really liked the way they had the trauma that they both went through play a good part of the ending. Was a healing way to use it.

I do feel maybe a times it was a bit on the faster side and more story could have been included.

I think for my first Ava Reid novel that this is a great stepping stone to their writing.

I feel this is a good story, with proper warnings ahead of reading.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Eating disorder, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

purduerx's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Murder

bookishmagpie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, and Gore

spacesheppard's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-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

3.0

There are aspects of this book that I enjoyed.  But at the end I was tired of it. Everyone is horrible to each other and the word "breasts" has no business to pop up as much as it does.  Main character has no personality for the most of the book. There is insta love and I can't tell one thing that they like about each other, except that they find each other attractive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Vomit, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault

dcnireads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Gaslighting

Minor: Xenophobia and Colonisation

olgareads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Stunning. An unflinchingly honest look into trauma, the cycle of abuse, and CSA with complex characters who aren't 'perfect victims' either in our society or the book's. I don't think a first person POV has ever felt so violently intimate as Marlinchen's, Sevas was a compelling and well-written love interest, and the interlinked relationships in the Vashchenko family were fascinating and devastating at once. This book had some of the most finely wrought prose I've had the pleasure of reading and a truly claustrophobic atmosphere; I also very much enjoyed the meta interweaving of fairy tale tropes and archetypes from Slavic folklore.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, and Cannibalism

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

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

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

booksandcatsand'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Okay, my copy did not say gothic horror on it, so be warned: this book is dark!! And maybe not for everyone. 

That being said, the writing was beautiful and rich and creepy, and I want to read it again someday.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Cannibalism