Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

73 reviews

rae5tar's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I really wanted to love this book. A lot of people have been telling me it’s their favorite of the year, but I thought it was just meh.🫤 For one, you’ll definitely need to read the second book; this is basically the first half of the story. Also, I believe the narrator Lisa Cordileone affected how much I liked it because I actually started reading the print version, but it got returned to the library before I could finish so I got Audible instead only to realize I liked the print version much more. I felt the way Lisa read the characters - especially Nightmare - was bland and she portrayed Elspeth as quite  whiny - but perhaps that was what the author intended? The premise of this book is interesting, I love that anyone can have magic, not just Fae or people from another realm, and its dark undertones were intriguing. The writing was kind of repetitive though; we get it the Nightmare’s voice is oily; we get it nothing comes for free. A little more imaginative description would be welcome. I am going to read the second book though because I need to find out what happens.😆

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

kayleekat's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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A compelling read with interesting magic and imagery

This book ends on a cliffhanger

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Blood

Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content

gauriraut's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent

liren's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Be Wary. Be Clever. Be Good.
"Atmospheric" doesn't even begin to capture the beauty of Rachel's writing. The magic system is so unique and the whole world is built around the lore and use of the cards. I love the characters, especially the Nightmare, and his rhymes set so much of the mood and mystery.
(Any time I see an allusion to The Highwayman, I get chills)
*updated after a reread, and it holds up as one of my favorite books.*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol

Minor: Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent

justreadin_'s review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Physical abuse, Violence

there is a scene where a character physically abuses other characters publicly as punishment. There is also some violence as there are action and fighting scenes.

vireogirl's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark tense fast-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

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Dark and twisted story but goodness is resilient.  I appreciated that Ravyn asked for permission before he touched her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder

chronic_listener's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

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Absolutely unputdownable, laced with magic and an eerie atmosphere, One Dark Window was a delightful surprise to me. 

I loved this so much more than I thought. The tension, the plot, the pacing, the characters, the setting, the romance, the writing - I was absolutely captivated.

More things I loved:

♥ the fmc not being a complete pushover 

♥ the magic system

♥ the tree family names

♥ the action scenes

♥ the tension between Elspeth and Ravyn

♥ the Nightmare

♥ the eerie rhymes 

This really felt like a movie in my head, the narrator did such an incredible job bringing this story to life. The writing was so horrifically great that I felt queasy at times because I could just imagine someone living inside my head and feel the pain of all the injuries like it was happening to me.

I can‘t wait to see where this story goes.

One thing I noticed: Considering our fmc seemed quite bright, it took her painfully long to realize what I feel like was quite obvious to the reader from early on.

The Nightmare being the Shepherd King and slowly becoming stronger the more she asks for his help.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol

Minor: Bullying, Police brutality

themis_biblos's review against another edition

2.75

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Elm should've been the love interest. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

the_castle_library's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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This book was AMAZING and I can't believe it took me so long to read it, especially since I was really eager to do so when I stumbled upon its existence last year! This reel doesn't even do it justice because I don't want to spoil ANYTHING! Part of the reason I'd waited is because it was always checked out and on 10+ holds at the library. This is a series hype I can fully understand! I am kicking myself right now because I can't check out the second book until I read 2 series i promised would be next after my library books were caught up 😅🤦🏻‍♀️ My ratings for spooky/dark and spice are 👻👻👻👻/🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent

kenzibir's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail