Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

5 reviews

shannonvonpesach's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Het verhaal is te vaag. Het is totaal niet duidelijk of het om vampieren gaat of edelen die koekoek zijn.

Het eind gevecht met het 'poppen' van de kaak en de arousel? Nee...

Ik ben dit gaan lezen vanwege de marketing over Elisabeth of Báthory, maar dit is slechts een inspiratie geweest voor het karakter en heeft er 0 mee te maken.

Ps: dit is een YA schrijfstyle dus geen adult boek.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Drug use, Cannibalism, Mental illness, Death, Torture, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

that_guy_bo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Many of the reviews I'd read about this book focused heavily on the sapphic elements, so as a gay man, I wasn't sure if this one was "for me." But, the blurb had intrigued me, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
 And I have to say, this was one of the most gripping books I've ever read!

 I've raved about it to anyone and everyone at every possible opportunity, because it really doesn't matter what your sexual orientation is, this is an entrancing book.

  The scenery is dripping with every possible luxury, which makes the slowly mounting horror of the story stand that much starker against the decadent backdrop.

Additionally, as a huge fan of vampires, while this isn't technically a vampire story, it has all the trappings of one, and it certainly has the atmosphere! So if you're a fan of vampires, you'll very likely love this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, and Addiction

Minor: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Incest, Classism, and Chronic illness

melchncookies's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

It started so interesting and as soon as it should have gotten interesting, it fell short. It stayed easy to read, so I finished it.

What I loved: There are no “good guys”. Everyone in this book is broken and awful, but some of them are less awful than the others. It was a new take on vampires, and they didn’t sparkle. 

What I am indifferent about: I think the child could have been left out of the book altogether. The story just didn’t need a kid to be present. Their presence in the house made it a little more grotesque, but added nothing to the story and fed into the

women must save the children stereotype. 

What I didn’t like:

The vampires are just entitled ass holes. Other than Lisavet having a “sickness” and needing blood (for an unknown reason), there’s no real discussion about what the blood maids are for.

I also didn’t love how unsupernatural the whole book was and then the end happened.

when the first blood maid is taken to the dungeons to become the wretch, I still have no idea what that was about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Drug use, Classism, Gore, Murder, Blood, and Confinement

Moderate: Addiction, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Bullying, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

It just wasn't doing it for me. It might be for someone, but it's not me unfortunately.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Drug use, Violence, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, Body horror, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent

Don't read this if you have a fear of needles or blood lol

qraveline's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Gore

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Torture, Confinement, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Murder, and Cannibalism