Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Magma by Thora Hjörleifsdóttir

23 reviews

shit_she_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

“Magma” is the first book I’ve read written by an Icelandic author. The novella follows the course of an abusive relationship from the perspective of Lilja, a young woman who finds herself increasingly entangled in a web of toxicity. Hjörleifsdóttir dedicates “Magma” to “those who have spoken out” and aims at using her voice to raise awareness and empathy for women in abusive relationships and tries to explain why one cannot just end these relationships. I read “Magma” in one sitting and loved the writing—some chapters are only two sentences long and the entire novel is incredibly fast-paced and stream of consciousness like which works so well with the topic. I really appreciate how “Magma” follows the process of Lilja becoming more and more lost in this relationship and depicts how she tries to rationalize her partner’s behavior. It is not the story of how one can leave a toxic relationship, but how one becomes increasingly unable to break free. “Magma” is sad, tense, but oh so raw and honest and I really recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

acrosstheskyinstars's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

1.0

 This book was basically the torture of a mentally ill woman in an abusive relationship. Trigger warnings for very graphic depictions of self-harm, suicide attempts, and sexual assault. I liked neither the stream-of-conscience style writing, nor the main character's frustrating refusal to do anything that would better her own circumstances. This book was definitely not my style. I don't think I can handle frustrating main characters. I spent the whole book begging her to make literally any other choices than the ones she did. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Rape

bibliofeline's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Addiction, Rape, and Sexual harassment

hannahparadise's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Self harm, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Mental illness, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

sidekicksam's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

4.0

This short story really packs a punch. Like a series of diary entries, the story follows Lilja's relationship with a man that is a walking red flag. But she explains away his faults and manipulative behaviour, develops unhealthy views of the other women in his life, and generally closes herself off more and more. 

I think what made this book so eery is that most of her behaviour is so relatable. It's horrifying to think of women in abusive or toxic relationships, but the rationalization she uses to explain away his faults are things I think a lot of us do often. The way Hjörleifsdóttir spins the tale in such short time is amazing and I can't wait to read more by her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

ambgs's review

dark emotional sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Domestic abuse

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Rape, and Misogyny

mbjrose99's review against another edition

I read the first 69 and last 20 pages and quite honestly a book has never disgusted me as much as this one.  I understand the authors aim, but I am still quite frankly, horrified and reeling.  Read the last few pages to see if it would get better and it in fact got so ,Ucd worse.  I feel quite justified in giving it up.

I have no idea how this got onto the Dublin Literary Award long list, but I hope it doesn’t make the short list because if it does, it’s incredibly suspicious.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault

samarakroeger's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

HUGE trigger warning for self harm oh my god. 

I think fans of Conversations With Friends would eat this up (including me)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy

karolinakriauzaite's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Vomit, Abandonment, and Sexism