Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Woman in the Dark by Vanessa Savage

3 reviews

fvaladez's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense 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

2.0

This book is NOT a horror book. This is NOT about ghosts or someone lurking in the walls. It pushes the narrative that way for a while, but it becomes a domestic abuse story. It seems like the story was written in two halves and the author just have up on the ghosts/horror aspect and decided to go with domestic abuse. It wasn't written terribly, but it wasn't written particularly well either.

The repeating of certain feelings and statements falls into the category of redundancy. It's almost like the author was trying to figure out more ways to say the same thing over and over again, when it doesn't add to the story in a meaningful way. After the 3rd time, for multiple characters, of repeating themselves, I felt like I could've skipped whole paragraphs and still be fine. 

There is no meaningful character growth, for good or evil. Some stuff is pretty obvious where it's heading and who's doing what. There were some parts that were giving me hope, but it reverted back to flat tropes and generic writing. 

Some characters feel like they were created to simply fit a trope and were lacking substance to really make them meaningful. And some parts that were harped on so much were never fully explored, like the whole "what's behind the paint and wallpaper" thing. We don't visit what's in the old holes in the wall, we don't see what was Patrick doing in the cellar, and a number of other things. This had me feeling like I wasn't getting all the necessary information and that these things were thrown in almost as an afterthought.

Speaking of tropes, damn near every trope is in here and they fall flat. Nothing worthwhile about it.

!!!!!!Trigger Warning!!!!!!!

There is a scene with rape that did not do anything for the story, and feels like it was utilized to simply top the previous bad thing that was done. The entire scene leading up to it makes no sense for it to happen. It's just there to be shocking. The following scene, the characters carry on a conversation almost as if nothing happens, after a brief apology session.

Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, and Toxic relationship

wherethewildreadsare's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

If you’re into husband gaslighting, unreliable character being forced to medicate herself & a relatively obvious plot, then this is for you. 

I should’ve DNF’d it. But kept wanting to see how it would. Should’ve DNF’d it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Domestic abuse, Death, and Addiction

sarahna's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Drug abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence