Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist

8 reviews

nithya_natalya's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense 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

4.0

This was a very fun novel, and once I got into it, moved very quickly. Very dark and bitter, and a satisfying portrayal of the decay beneath the glitz of capitalism and celebrity.
The only reason that I didn't give this five stars is because I wanted it to go further than it did. While the atmosphere and general mood of the novel felt gothic, the climax and resolution didn't feel grisly and tragic and destructive enough. It felt like eat the rich, except we only got the appetizer before the novel was over.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

thecriticalreader's review

Go to review page

tense medium-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

1.0

 
Context:
I read Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist because of Jesse On Youtube’s recommendation. I borrowed it from my local library through the Libby App.
 
Review:
Lately, I’ve been reading and watching a lot of stories about poor protagonists who work for ominous wealthy people/corporations. Tripping Arcadia certainly falls into this category, and I can see its potential; it has a strong beginning chapter and some interesting plot threads. Beneath its Gothic vibes, however, Tripping Arcadia is nothing more than a clunky debut novel that struggles under the weight of its stilted prose, flat characters, and convoluted plot. 
 
When reading Tripping Arcadia, experienced readers will recognize some of the common prose mistakes made by debut authors: awkward phrasing, the tendency to tell instead of show, overuse of passive voice, etc. It could have been worse—it didn’t prevent me from becoming engrossed in the story—but it also left something to be desired.
 
For me, the most interesting part of the book is the two wealthy siblings, Jonathan and Audrey. They appear to have a checkered past and Mayquist wraps them up in an aura of mystery; are they to be pitied, or to be feared? Unfortunately, we never learn much about them and they remain in enigmas rather than developed characters. Similarly, Lena, the protagonist, fails to come alive on the page. She claims to care about her family and friends but easily abandons them to hang out with the rich people she supposedly hates, and her supposed rage against the wealthy disappears at the drop of the hat when Mayquist needs to move the plot along. In the hands of a more capable author, this sort of dithering could be fascinating, but at the end of the day, Lena is confusing and boring.
 
One of the biggest appeals of books like Tripping Arcadia is the opportunity to see rich people behaving badly and hopefully get punished for it. The wealthy in this book do indeed behave badly, but not in any way that made me think that Mayquist has any solid grasp on what rich people and their lives are actually like. The result is a ludicrously convoluted plot that makes no sense. By the end of Tripping Arcadia, I had no idea what was going on—but I also didn’t care.
 
The Run-Down: 
You might like Tripping Arcadia if . . . 
·      You’re in it for the Gothic vibes, bisexual main character, and trippy plot
·      You’re looking for a thriller rather than a horror novel
 
You might not like Tripping Arcadia if . . .
·      You like well-developed characters and a believable plot
·      You want an incisive social commentary about wealth
 
 
A Similar Text:
The movie 2023 movie Saltburn, which at the time of writing this review is all the rage.  I liked Saltburn much more than Tripping Arcadia, so take this comparison with that in mind. Similarities include:
·      Family of rich, dysfunctional assholes who host lavish, drug-filled parties in their Gothic mansion
·      An outsider main character with devious intentions
·      Poison and murder
·      Sexual tension between the main character and two rich siblings
 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

courtney_scott1025's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

I read this fairly quickly, because I fell into the story and was sucked in. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, the pacing, the story. My only gripe is that some elements felt rushed, but it didn't make the book less enjoyable. I have read mostly horror, and I wouldn't say this is gory or anything like that. More mystery, but I loved it regardless. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

laketwentytwo's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

2.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

city_girl_writer's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

This was really good. I loved the the gothic imagery of New England, the medical content regarding poisons, the bonds between Lend, Johnathan, and Audrey, etc. My only gripe was the reveals towards the end. I had a hard time piecing everything together. Maybe in a week or so, it would all make sense. Nonetheless, I would recommend this but it's not for everyone.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

caidyn's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Wow. I went into this book without knowing much of the story, just that someone recommended it who has a good taste in books. Definitely worth it and a very good read. I'm glad I delved into it!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kumquats87's review

Go to review page

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

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

alliechase's review

Go to review page

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

5.0

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist grabbed me and didn’t let go! This modern-day gothic novel kept me on the edge of my seat and up well past my bedtime. Though flawed and not always good people, I cared about the three main characters and rooted for them throughout the book. Mayquist’s writing was engaging, raw, and poetic. It beautifully captured the flawed characters, the debauched Gatsby-esque parties, the anger and compassion of our protagonist, and the gothic decay and beauty of the settings. The book gave a similar feel as The Secret History by Donna Tartt (one of my favorite books!) and had a hint of dark academia within the gothic tale. You will not want to miss this book! I highly recommend pre-ordering Tripping Arcadia, especially with some attractive pre-order incentives available!

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Penguin Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...