Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Guest in the House by E.M. Carroll

12 reviews

discocaptain's review

dark sad tense slow-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

4.75

literally the ONLY follow up to shirley jackson's haunting of hill house i will stand for (aside from maybe the mabel podcast). e.m. carroll understands EXACTLY what makes a gothic story interesting, and does not shy away from the psychosexual lesbianism that comes with it. i photocopied the kiss spread yeah you know the one you KNOW at the library because it made me so crazy i need to look at it every day. i don't even want to talk about this book too much just go read it happy pride month

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fatphobia and Child abuse

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.5

A thoroughly haunting and captivating story, that delivered peak eery atmosphere through the entity of the tale. I was genuinely frightened multiple times and had to stop reading, especially at night time.

The story was much more complex than I expected, but for the most part I think it carrier through it's themes and general plot exploration really well. Where it falls down for me was the ending; the plot twist was shocking and left me with so many questions, but then the ending just confused me. I didn't really understand what had happened. I feel like this is how I felt back in the day when I had read Carroll's Through the woods short story collection, but generally speaking, A guest in the house had a more satisfying layout.

Abby was a very non-assuming protagonist but her inner world was rich and whimsical. I loved the scenes of her imaginary knight and how she wanted to be in spirit, but it was interwoven with this dark and sinister entity and environment that I began to wonder if that was coming from Abby herself.

Carroll really had me second guessing characters and although I'm left perplexed by those last few pages, I enjoyed the beauty of the details of the art and the story overall.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Suicide, Body horror, Blood, Murder, and Grief

broughtbybrokenminds's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

 No one draws drippy gooey body horror quite like Emily Carroll! The use of pops of color throughout the book as the fantastical seeps into Abby’s everyday life has a mesmerizing effect that draws the reader deep into the story. I loved the suburban gothic vibes that embraced depicting the horror of a mundane existence in equal part with the supernatural horror. Experiencing life through Abby’s perspective as a woman who feels uncomfortable in her own body and like a guest in her own home, fuels the creeping dread that unfolds as her obsession with the ghost of her husband’s first wife grows. This was a fascinating mystery that will leave you questioning what was real and what was imaginary, with gorgeous artwork that will stick with you long after you close the last page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide and Cancer

flamesocks's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Murder, and Toxic relationship

foxclcves's review

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Gore

Moderate: Dysphoria, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Minor: Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Self harm, Violence, Alcohol, and Gaslighting

violerwolf's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

Gorgeous art style, gorgeous writing, absolutely do not understand the ending and I don’t think I ever will. And I think I have to be okay with that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Suicide, Sexual content, Murder, Gaslighting, and Death

katizwitchy's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

 The art was beautiful and haunting, though I have to say I think I'll have to read it a few more times to really understand the plot. I want to say that the ending was disappointing, but I think I just haven't really digested it yet. Such a compelling ride up until that abrupt stop and wow! I will be thinking about her for a long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Body horror, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Gore, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide

ecallahan's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Toxic relationship

theabee's review

dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Grief

Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Suicide

trailmixraisins's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

I, like many others, found the ending to be a little confusing, and I had to reread it multiple times. But, as others have also said, the art is beautiful, and it's an amazing vehicle for the storytelling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Suicide

Moderate: Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting