Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Magma by Thora Hjörleifsdóttir

44 reviews

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

wasabiapple's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

dizzzybrook's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

1.5

Another trauma-porny book that conveys this idea that

becoming pregnant/having a child will somehow fix everything bad in your life

I’d like my $10 and the last hour of my life back, thanks.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Physical abuse, Vomit, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault

iemilia's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Sexual content, Self harm, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Rape

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

fourcue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.0

Reading this book feels like watching someone drown in slow motion, and there's nothing you can do to help. It makes this a very raw, poetic read, that cuts a bit too close to home in places.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Mental illness, and Infidelity

dafni's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Fatphobia

kojo0o's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Self harm, and Rape

xbernadette's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Rape

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