Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

24 reviews

jourdanicus's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? No

5.0

An incredible story. Pretty much everything about his book is loveable. I especially appreciated the theme of a narcissistic/neglectful parent, I feel the author explored very well how that affected Tarisai and how she was able to overcome that. Such believable, meaningful human themes woven into intriguing magic/fantasy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content

peachmoni's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"No, we don't deserve the burdens that our parents gave us. But we can't defeat monsters that we won't face."

A fantastic novel about love, duty and desire: how they can shape - or distort - who we are and who we become.

I found that the story picked up in Part 2, and from then on, I was engaged. Ifueko reveals mysteries bit by bit, which made me want to keep reading till the end. (Confession: I almost tapped out at around 90% because I thought the main story was over and everything else was filler. I am glad I continued, not only because that wasn't the case, but also because Jordan Ifueko writes nicely!)

I tried to figure out what was going on, which I don't actively do, usually... and I was wrong as hell, which I appreciate. 😂

Also of note:

• Cool to see ace representation as well, though I cannot judge whether it is 100% accurate
• The description of Tarisai's loneliness, particularly in the first book resonated with me, as a child who was often left to her own devices. Unlike Tarisai, though, I was able to make and keep friends at school and in my neighborhood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, and Genocide

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, and Grief

xoodlebooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Medical content

ericadawson's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.75

A wonderfully woven book. Diverse without tokenizing, complex without being confusing, and full of deep prose without being overwritten. Raybearer follows a young girl who's got probably one of the most complex mother-daughter relationships I've ever seen in a book in general, let alone YA. I love the worldbuilding and the depth of the storytelling, the way the twists and turns came without feeling like I was being blindsided or purposely led astray. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Vomit, and War