Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Juniper & Thorn

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

lalapaka13's review

dark emotional 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

3.75

I am majorly concerned by the fact that every time I've tried to buy this book I've been pointed to the children's section. This is not a reflection on the book, but now that I've read it I cannot emphasise enough how much this book is NOT for children.

It was DEEPLY disturbing throughout in a way that I'm finding very difficult to describe, I think because there was such an undercurrent of sexual violence on literally every page. There are a number of very graphic sex scenes and SO MANY nipples and like, not in a good way. Huge amounts of the plot hinge on detailed childhood abuse and trauma, as well as violence, cannibalism and disordered eating.

Personally, I thought this book was incredibly well written in a way that made me horribly intrigued. I couldn't stop reading, the same way you can't stop looking at a car crash. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a book that really gets under your skin, I think I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Content Warnings

ska1224's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

msrae89's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark 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

3.0

Content Warnings

toastyghosty13's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious sad 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

3.25

This book was exceptionally dark. I thought I had an idea of what might happen in this book based on a different book I read by the same author (A Study in Drowning) and was still surprised. This book follows Marlinchen, the youngest of 3 girls in a family with a widower. She repeatedly draws the short end of the stick on everything from looks, social skills, chores throughout the house, and treatment from her father and sisters. Their mother is no longer with them and she does her best to enjoy life while being the daughter of an abusive father, the famed last wizard in the town they live in and who has also been cursed by a witch whose livelihood he ruined.

Marlinchen entertains her sisters' midnight shenanigans of sneaking out to see the ballet and she falls in love with the dancing, and more specifically the leading man dancing in it.

This goes on to be a story of betrayal and finding love in even the darkest of places. It is a very dark story that made it difficult to get through sometimes, but still was very satisfying to read. I recommend to anyone that likes dark books and characters who have all the odds stacked against them.

Content Warnings

jeslo's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark

Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Content Warnings

aturb92's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging 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

4.0

A graphically beautiful fantasy horror novel. Reid writes in a folk tale style, and even when I wanted to look away I could not. This book definitely deals with freedom from an oppressive household, and finding oneself.

Content Warnings