Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

23 reviews

ceilidhwilliams's review

adventurous 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Toxic relationship

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.0

While there were definitely parts of this book that were somewhat predictable - I actually predicted 2 plot twists, and screamed out "I FUCKING KNEW IT" out loud when I got to them - I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!
I read this as a buddy read with a friend of mine, and we both enjoyed elements of it. I think there were parts that went on a little longer than they needed to, but overall it was so intriguing. I loved the court intrigue, the world and abilities, and I liked the characters. So many of them are flawed and their flaws stick out to the reader.

I will note that I read this as an ebook and was SO CONFUSED how the ebook was over 800 pages but it says the actual book is less than 400. The true plot twist - there are tons of extras at the back of the ebook, like 100 pages of extras - HAHA! That was oddly the one thing I did not predict.

Anyways, I really liked this book and will definitely continue the series. Hopefully as a buddy read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death

irmalol's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Slavery, Torture, and War

Moderate: Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

snartyhasgottheskills's review

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

this book does a wonderful job of building up hope and trust and then breaking it, you know that betrayal is imminent but the book makes you feel hopeful leading to a more intense and emotional reaction when eventually there is a plot twist

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, and Toxic relationship

kbairbooks's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This was a DENSE book. It was THIQQUE with world building and just… so fuckin much political anguish. The scenes of torture and abuse and the beheading scene were intense and the corrupt, the betrayal, the pain. It was a whole lot. And the surprise ending was… wow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

Minor: Cancer and Child death

dorothysbookshelf's review

dark reflective tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Physical abuse, War, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Racial slurs

Minor: Cursing, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

strong themes of terrorism and racism between fictitious groups

readwithde's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Another day, another strong, female YA/NA novel about overthrowing the government. 

I have to say, this might be one of my favorite fictional worlds, and the story happening around and to the MCs is so overwhelmingly amazing. Mare, a simple thief and Red girl ends up having an amazing ability, just like the elite Silvers who rule. Like many female leads, she is thrust into this new world of court, politics, and betrayal, where only power and strength are honored. 

Unlike the other heroines, Mare remains thoroughly different. She doesn't learn courtly intrigue, she doesn't come to understand the Silvers, and she never chooses romance over her family, her friends, and her Red blood. The comfort and protection and specialness never trick her into forgetting the pain and atrocities of her people. Also, she trains a bit, but she is still outmatched by those who have had decades of work; at the end of the book, she is stronger, but not unrecognizable. It's refreshing.

I saw a few of the twists coming, but it didn't run the story for me. The princes Cal and Maven are interesting and consistent, the Scarlet Guard is active as its own entity (aka not waiting around for the MCs), and the Silvers all have their own games and loyalty. 

I loved it, and I'm dying for the next book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Xenophobia

Moderate: Blood, Violence, Torture, Racism, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and War

reading_nomatterwhat's review

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? No

1.0

TBH I hated this book, this is the first book in my current reading streak that has actively p!ssed me off.

Mare is a whiny bitch with such a big ego it is crazy. She goes on and on about how the silvers make reds die in a war they don't want and then participates in the murder/maiming of children Just because their silver children. She thinks that everything the red guard does is justified because *oppression* and refuses to listen to any warnings or logic. She ruins the lives of the only people in the nobility who care about her, hates the man that brought her family out of ruin, and is so blind to possible manipulation she should get a scrip for it. Cal deserves NONE of he shit he gets from Mare like omg, she refuses to think about the consequences of the rebellions actions, how free will you feel when every neighboring country is coming to kill you? Cal TRIES to find a solution that will free the reds for good not just temporarily, he's trying to end the 100 yr war, he's willing to RISK HIS LIFE ON THE FRONT LINES TO TURN THE TIDES and all fucking mare can do is make snide remarks about how he must enjoy killed people???? HE IS FORCED TO KILL HIS DAD (his dads a bitch but still!) KILL HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEUGES AND ALMOST BE EXECUTED BY THE COUNTRY HE WAS JUST STARTING TO FIX and all mare can think about is how betrayed she feels because she's a fucking idiot and couldn't see corruption if it licked her clit

Anywho, I simply can't enjoy a book if I hate the main character with a furious passion, I wish she was dead. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Hate crime

emma2578's review

adventurous hopeful tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Although I didn’t LOVE Mare’s character, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. There were so many plot twists that I didn’t at all see coming as well as lovable characters. I’m excited to read the next book in the series, “Glass Sword”! 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

safety_pin's review

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

few romance scenes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, and Toxic relationship