Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

12 reviews

abnormal_shadow's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

So, this book was recommended to me by someone who had read the Last Binding Trilogy (a book series i love very much and everyone should read) saying it was pretty similar which I do get. I like that the book is based off sort of off real life setting and Seance craze as stated by the author in the note they left. When I first started to book, I assumed it predictable from what I could see but as the story progressed, I realized I knew nothing of what was going to happen, guessing something spot on and others very much wildly wrong. I like that the romance was not the A plot and not even the B plot more of a side to the main course that was the 2 murder mysteries. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol

kelisabeth's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Biphobia, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Classism, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, and Gore

whimsylee's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Loved the Victorian spiritualism  and the sapphic romance. The mystery pulled me in and compelled me to keep reading. Some of the writing was redundant and I personally disliked the use of misogyny in this book. If you like spooky/historical mysteries and sapphic romance, I recommend this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Grief, Blood, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

emilywemily6's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

This one is kind of hard for me to rate, especially because I loved Penner’s first book! The writing at the beginning was hard to follow and so I was confused for the first half of the book that the beginning seance was Evie’s. The first half was kind of slow while the second half got more interesting and definitely picked up speed. I feel like these characters were overly sexualized and the focus on lust detracted from the story and from the other personality traits of the characters- literally everyone is obsessed with sex in this book. I found the society’s secrets very intriguing and how the scandal kept growing, though some of the “twists” were very predictable. I also feel like the ending wrapped up too nicely because of the paranormal being able to do things these characters could not. Lenna did some stupid things and often didn’t even try to fight her way out of tricky situations. I would have appreciated a bit more effort on her part. This book feels  different than Penner’s previous and while I generally enjoyed it, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Death

Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcohol

gracescanlon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Blood, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

blackcatkai's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.0

CW: blood, murder, death, lite sexual content, ableism, body shaming, gaslighting, sexism, sexual assault, alcohol, fire, classism, homophobia, toxic relationships, grief, some gun violence 

it was ok. I would've liked it more without Morleys POV but whatever. love me a good sapphic love story with ghosts. more of that, please! 

honestly my biggest issue was the constant framing of a port wine stain birthmark being ugly. I know this is a historical novel, but it is so frustrating seeing it constantly mentioned throughout the book. ready player one did this too and it pisses me off. 

your birthmark is not an imperfection, a problem, nor is it disgusting. there is nothing wrong with any type of birthmark, regardless of where it is. what size it is. nor its colouring. and dont let anyone or any book make you feel otherwise. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Body shaming, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Ableism, Violence, Grief, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Alcohol

savheath's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Misogyny

Minor: Misogyny, Gun violence, and Rape

felofhe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Classism, Cursing, Death, Murder, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Sexual content

unboxedjack's review against another edition

dark 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

1.75

Really disappointed with this one. It read like a sixth grader dabbling in queer fanfic: no character development, a predictable and lackluster plot, and eye rolling prose (if it can even be called that). 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Grief, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Murder

bookedandbusy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I enjoyed this one a lot! The spooky atmosphere was perfect and I really liked Lenna and Vaudaline! I found this a bit confusing at times but other than that I really enjoyed it! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Blood, and Toxic relationship