Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh

10 reviews

danpeachey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Miscarriage, Child death, and Self harm

schromrgn's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Gun violence

jcue_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.5

This book has an interesting plot that, for me, was not executed well. The characters were very well written, however, the writing became abstract but not in a way that suited this story or the characters, except maybe Grace - at the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gaslighting, and Confinement

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

nabila99's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

 my first thought as i read this was: i don’t understand why the average rating for this book is so low!

the water cure is a gorgeously written and atmospheric exploration of abuse, trauma, family dynamics, loneliness, and survival as women. we follow the lives of three sisters, mainly the elder two, in their isolated, cult-like family that has convinced them that men are mortal threats to them, and that their abusive “therapies” are the only way to remain strong and unaffected. except one day, when a trio of men arrive on their island, testing their resolve. 

this is not an easy book to read - the abuse detailed in it is graphic, and the pain, loneliness and stockholm syndrome of the sisters is very heavy. i’m not a big fan of the revelations or the ending, and i wouldn’t call this a “feminist dystopia”, but i was enthralled by this slow-paced, eerie, heartbreaking story.
 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, and Drug use

Minor: Suicide

dreabang's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts

caitlin1066's review

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

Okay, wow! So beautifully written and intense. It felt very confusing to begin with, but everything seemed to fall into place by the end. Definitely not a light-hearted read! There were extremely intense themes which were explained in such a way that I 100% see why they were added to the story. A tale of three sisters’ bond that is built on violence and abuse. Very metaphorical and poetic, what with the father figure being called King and the development of the male characters in the book. Some very harrowing scenes, some of the worst being Lia’s self harm and the ocean/baby scene. Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend if you like books that are mysterious and dark. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

ravegr01's review

challenging dark reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

yew676's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, and Torture

gentlethem's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Confinement, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Vomit and Incest

parablesarah's review

dark sad slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual assault, and Child abuse