Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

24 reviews

mmidi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

Beautiful worldbuilding and complex, feminist characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

modernhobbitvibes's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood

forgottuesday's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and War

ashlikes's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Pregnancy

nozycozy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

What a journey! I loved Tarisai’s story and her motivations. The friendship, love, adversity was engaging and the power and darkness that runs this world was extraordinary. The stakes were high! The past, present and lore had me glued to the pages. The colors and cultures were immersive. I’m excited to read the sequel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

mariebrunelm's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-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? N/A

4.75

Hidden between the walls of a fortress none but its inhabitants can see, Tarisai grows up longing for her mother's love. But The Lady is often on the road and her visits home are short. She is however determined for her daughter to carve a future worthy of her, and so she sends her to the capital with the mission to kill a boy while taking part in a competition. Tarisai soon discovers that the series of trials held in the company of the prince will determine the members of his council. She is supposed to take part like the others. But as soon as she meets the prince, a terrible urge to kill rises in her. She has found her mother's target.

Ready for a breathless adventure alongside very loveable characters in an Africa-inspired land? Raybearer was more YA than the adult novel I'd expected, but I didn't have time to wonder about that as I was swept away and held on the edge of my seat by Jordan Ifueko. The novel kept a fast rhythm, as fast as the drums that keep beating in the background of Tarisai's whereabouts, but it never lost sight of its characters and their emotional journeys. I loved the cast and the lush world-building, and if the last revelations were a bit too hasty to leave me time to process them, they all sounded right and made the pieces click together. 

Rep: polyamourous characters, asexual character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Child death and Murder

glitterdeww's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

I decided to wait a few days between finishing Raybearer and writing the review, because I want to articulate how much I loved this book without devolving into all caps and exclamation points... but I don't know if there's an amount of time that exists that can stifle my excitement to talk about Raybearer. Friends, fellow readers, THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!! 

I found each aspect of the story to be fantastic. The plot's mystery keeps the reader engaged and unfolds at a good pace. The characters are complicated and lovely. Their relationships show love and commitment, distress and self-doubt in equal measure. The world building and magic is absolutely beautiful.

I also need to talk about the styling of this book because just looking at the cover does something delicious to my brain. There is so much within Raybearer that connected perfectly, and I could not be happier to report that this cover hits the mark exactly. It encapsulates the vibrancy and power felt in both the world building and characters. This is such a great aesthetic. A+ all around.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Violence

taylor_perry's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

This book blew me away. And listening to it vs reading it was nothing short of beautiful and magical. This book covered things I wish the YA of my generation had. I devoured this book and cannot wait to read the second one. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Suicide, and Religious bigotry

Erasure of culture is a very emotional and moderate topic present in this book as well

micaela_ru's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Incest and Sexual content

book_loving_dragon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and War

Moderate: Toxic relationship