Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

111 reviews

wrensreadingroom's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, Stalking, Torture, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Animal death, Bullying, Mental illness, War, Grief, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, and Self harm

katievallin's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Violence, Cursing, and Trafficking

Moderate: Rape, Stalking, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder

Minor: Bullying and Death of parent

withywoods's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.0

You know what wasn't necessary? Callie being a teenager. 'ckin' 'ell

Also I know it's just common in American parlance now, but you'd think actual writers would know that it's "I wish you had told me", not "I wish you would've...". It makes no sense. Anyway.

My overarching sense with romance fantasy, which leaves me questioning my sanity whenever I think I'm in the mood for something easy like this, is how some actual semblance of a stronger storyline would do wonders for the novel as a whole. The whole of Thief of Souls thing could make this a straight-up horror novel, if done right.

Werewolf bf/ex-bf sideplot was utterly unnecessary.

Books like these usually have the most detestable main characters but Callie and Desmon were fine. Apart from the stupid names. "Des" sounds like a guy who loves fish and chips drowning in salt and vinegar lmao.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Rape

kaadee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Abandonment, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Child abuse, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

katlynnnxo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

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

Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol

enbyfinley's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

2.25

The plot was good in the way an easy read is. Because I listened to the audiobook, and he reader made this book waaaayyy better than it really was. 

 I did feel the flashbacks were irritating for me, jumping back and forth for very little information. I liked that Des and Callie were close until I reflected on the grooming vibe of a underage victim or abuse. Nope… for me.

I also found the FMC a bit whiny at times but I still enjoyed here the other 50% of the time when she was acting like an adult. The side characters felt so one dimensional and the reasoning for things didn’t feel like ACTUAL REASONS!

The spice was a good 3🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 but as the story continued, 

this book was not a story I will revisit or finish the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Rape

Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Blood, and Alcoholism

Minor: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Torture

fionamatilda's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Violence

gcyawg's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Rape and Child abuse

hclin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will plan to finish the series. I would be hard pressed to recommend this series because of the sheer number of trigger warnings it requires. I liked the spice and even the relationship between the two main characters as adults, but it was difficult to get over that

the romantic part of their relationship began when she was 16. This detracted from my experience as a reader.

I felt the world building could have been a bit stronger but I'm hoping it will get better in the next books (this could be because I'm less of a fan of urban/low fantasy though). My favourite aspect of this series is the concept of Callie being a Siren and the power and difficulties of this identity. I found it to be a unique take on magic/powers with interesting reflections about sexuality and feminism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Confinement, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Slavery and Toxic relationship

bangiebangs's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Enjoyable and funny read (except the Harry Potter references... those didn't age well imo), with a nice starting point. There are some pretty dark themes (sexual abuse), so be warned. I'm finding that I really like Laura Thalassas style of writing, so am expecting to like most (if not all) of her work?

The pacing is pretty good, and while some plot points are a bit obvious to the discerning reader (

that they are mates

) it's really enjoyable to read. 

Slight warning if you're sensitive to having a very young heroine (underage) fall for a much older love interest (supernatural, so... very old) - he holds back until she is of age, but still a tad cringe. 

Recommended if you like your morally grey MMCs, powerful MFCs, a gaggle of fantasy tropes, etc. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Alcohol, Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Torture, Grief, Rape, Alcoholism, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent