Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

57 reviews

comfy_anna's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Cannibalism, Body horror, Murder, Body shaming, Vomit, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Addiction, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Outing, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Death, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, and Terminal illness

Minor: Abandonment and Abortion

robin_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

2.75

Unfortunately to me it wasn’t worth the hype. My expectations were very high due to the hype and I was disappointed. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Moderate: Cannibalism and Vomit

maebae's review against another edition

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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Vomit, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Eating disorder, Animal death, and Death of parent

virtuadoll's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.25

Although it started off really slow, I really enjoyed this. I’m excited to read more of Reid’s work in the future as she has a gift for writing - not once did I find myself being pulled out of the story because of her writing, which is something that I tend to experience frequently. There’s some banging quotes in here from our main character Marlinchen, and her development was very enjoyable to follow for me. 

Also Rosenrot being a lesbian is so based. It’s not explored very much but is mentioned a couple of times and I loved her as a character too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Emotional abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Murder, Death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Blood, Animal death, Body horror, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma

Minor: Abortion and Incest

wyabook234's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Gore

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Cannibalism

chofa96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Animal death, Eating disorder, Vomit, and Murder

brendan_clay's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault and Cannibalism

bohemianhermit04's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Vomit, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Eating disorder

Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Confinement, and Physical abuse

3rdeyeopen's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Classism, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Death, Gore, Gaslighting, Blood, Torture, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse

iconicavocado's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

Book 📖: 4/5 stars

I've been dying to read this book! I've heard nothing but good things and for the most part it delivered! 

I really enjoyed the reimagining of The Juniper Tree with such poetic melancholy writing and exploration of dark themes. I wasn't entirely sure how large the scope would go but I found the ending quite satisfying. 

Going into this I knew there are content warnings, but I still found some parts to be hard to stomach. I don't demerit the book for it because the uncomfortableness was what the author was going for. I did find the pacing to be quite slow and wish it picked up its third act just a bit quicker. 

This is not a book for everyone. It's incredibly dark and definitely in the realm of horror. But I loved it's unique writing and haunting take of an already twisted fairytale. I'm excited to read more of Ava Reid's work! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Gore, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Animal death, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse