Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Misrule by Heather Walter

6 reviews

quitegood's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I have to say that once its all been said and done, I did enjoy my time with duology. There's certainly many ways the books could be better, but I believe the author's intention was to write about the trauma of abuse, and how the can end up swallowing you whole if you're not careful. I myself am a survivor of constant bullying in school resonate with Alyce, and seeing her stumble way throught the maturation one needs to go through in order to get over the bullying was equal parts inspiring and frustrating. And I fully believe that frustration was intentional, because it can be difficult to help someone with trauma. You're brain is like that of a teenager; illogical and regressed. Outside obersevers can see so many paths to a better you, but you as the victim see them all, and the indecision can be crushing! 
If I was to offer literary criticism, I'd ask for more world building. I can't place my finger on it, but the world didn't feel rich enough. It felt like I was reading a text book at times, as opposed to a narrative. Maybe the author was going for a more magical realism vibe, but considering large plot-points hinge on how the magic works in this world, it reading less like an instruction manual might have helped. I also feel teh characters were a little inconsistent. Their logic didn't quite work, and while yes, its a story about victims of trauma and how you can't think straight, the book would spell out a character's internal logic, and then they'd act completely against it. 
All that criticism aside, I did like the ending. No spoilers, but it was a refreshingly real ending what wasn't bitter sweet. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Gore, Murder, Mental illness, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

meghansarmiento97's review against another edition

Too slow, got bored, first book was better

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Blood, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Gore

scifi_rat's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

Plot: 3.5 ★
Prose: 4 ★
Pace: 3 ★
Concept/Execution: 4 ★/3★
Characters: 3.5 ★
Worldbuilding: 3.5 ★
Ending: 3.5 ★

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Confinement, Bullying, Hate crime, Murder, Death, Grief, Slavery, and Blood

Minor: Gaslighting, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

livlamentloathe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Bullying, and Classism

Moderate: Genocide, Grief, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Abandonment, Torture, and Gaslighting

There is no racism/sexism based on skin or gender. But there is racism based on magical creatures like imps vs. fae, etc.

litalia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Violence, Toxic friendship, Blood, Bullying, and Death

Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

schnaucl's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I liked it.

I was so glad Heather Walter didn't have Aurora and Alyce immediate resume their relationship.  There needed to be real consequences for everything that happened at the end of Malice.  Even if Aurora could somehow get past the murder of almost everyone she knew and the destruction of her home, Alyce leaving her sleeping for 100 years when she knew she could be could wake with a single kiss from someone else is unbelievably selfish and cruel.  (And would also ensure in the normal course of things that everyone Aurora knew probably would have died of old age).

I like that they had to rebuild trust and that they also had to spend time apart and figure out who they were before they could think about maybe trying to be together again.

I'm also glad Callow lived!

I'd really like to see more books from this author.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Grief, Child death, Animal death, and Death of parent