Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

63 reviews

itsmelaurenc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I had my reservations but I’m so glad I stuck it out, prob one of my favorites of the whole series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Addiction, Murder, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Alcohol, Blood, Violence, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Miscarriage, Child death, and Rape

picaresquedreamer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Grief, and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Abandonment, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, War, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent

holz_18's review against another edition

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

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

2.5

Honestly, this was the best book in the entire series. Despite the weak ending I felt this was the strongest and best written book out of all 4.5 ACOTAR books. I really hope the shifting POVs continue with these books, as I think it really helps the plot stand up and justify how ridiculously long these books are.

As always the narrator was amazing, but I think this is her best performance. There was just so much more emotion put into the dialogue AND narration. It really sold me on the story and feelings. Which was important as this book is VERY focused on emotions and how they impact the characters. The exploration of trauma and healthy vs unhealthy coping mechanisms was written better than I anticipated. I also really appreciated the friendship Nesta developed with other women in the book and how that aided her recovery. It’s something that was sorely missing from Feyre’s story.

The relationship dynamics in this book were pretty hit-or-miss for me. I thought Azriel and Nesta had the best written dynamic. I really enjoyed the few interactions they had. And the change of Elaine and Nesta’s dynamic as a reaction to their trauma was also interesting. It didn’t feel out of place. It also allowed for more expansion on Elaine’s character, which I really liked. Aside from that, Cassin and Nesta’s dynamic was fine. I didn’t find it anything special, but I enjoyed the way they played off each other. The rest of the dynamics were pretty lacking, and actually made me dislike the Inner Circle. While Nesta wasn’t the kindest, it was clearly a response to being abandoned by the others. My dislike was further driven by their upset at Nesta being traumatised. Where they were gentle and patient with Feyre, they were short tempered and cruel to Nesta. Again, Nesta wasn’t perfect, but it was because the people that were treating her poorly had abandoned her when she needed community. The worst dynamic was Nesta and Rhysand. While it was pretty strong when they hated each other, their reconciliation at the end was horribly rushed. Especially considering Rhysand’s HORRIBLE actions in the book.

On that note, wow. Mister Your Choice shows his colours by taking away Feyre’s choices. Shocker. I am blown away. Truly. Shocked. It’s not like he’s been doing this, but more subtle the entire series. Honestly, if anyone is still swoony over Rhysand after he WITHHELD MEDICAL INFORMATION from his wife about how she MIGHT DIE is a new low. It’s disgusting behaviour and the fact the book brushed it off and shamed Nesta for telling Feyre the truth is INSANE.

My only other gripes are the spice and end, which just felt very rushed. Along with the wedding, their mating ritual happening so abruptly really threw me. The spice was hilarious, but not on purpose. I really don’t like the way SJM writes spice, so I mostly zoned out during those scenes.

Overall it was a just okay book. Nothing special, but better than the others. I presume due to less Rhysand content.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Blood, Sexism, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Miscarriage, Stalking, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, and Child abuse

neliadiedenise's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Gore, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, War, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Violence, Abandonment, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, and Vomit

hannalizzy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I laughed, I cried, I got turned on. What more can you ask for? Nesta is a nasty bitch with a heart of gold and I love her and relate to her and am so so proud of her. I cannot wait until the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Addiction, Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Sexual harassment, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Sexual content, War, and Mental illness

theimposter's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

jas_thompson's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I love this world overall, but the pace of the book felt off. The main romantic relationship had a lot of toxicity for most of the book and it made it hard to read at times.  Overall, the FMC had a lot of development. I loved her interactions with her friends and the theme of women empowering women. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Rape, and Torture

mangofraiche's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Kidnapping, Death, Rape, Body horror, Death of parent, and Gore

abigailrosalynn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Death, War, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content