Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

15 reviews

obviousthings's review

emotional inspiring 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? No

2.75

I thought the premise of this story was really cool and interesting, and I was impressed with the worldbuilding and how La Voz was written, but the book as a whole just did not work for me. 

Dani is naive and totally unprepared for the situations she finds herself in. I think this could have worked if it had been the point of the story - that might have been an interesting exploration of morality - but because this is YA, the narrative is on her side at all times. (Not something I fault the genre for, but because Dani is so far out of her depth, it doesn't work well here). I don't mind characters who make bad decisions, but it's really frustrating to watch a character make a bad decision and then have the narrative try to pass it off as totally reasonable. For much of the book I found myself wishing for a more capable protagonist.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Police brutality

Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Medical content

Warning for fire/a building burning

rinnykitty's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This book takes place on an island where every man of power gets two wives. And there's nothing we love to see more than the two wives of one of the most powerful men on the island fall in love and turn on him in the name of the revolution. If you're looking for a book about the weak and powerless fighting as hard as possible to stick it to the man, this book is worth checking out. It leaves on a giant cliffhanger, so it'll probably end up making anyone want to buy the second book right away. Also, I can not stop thinking about the part

where La Voz puts on a performance while wearing masks and burns down the marketplace. As horrifying it must've been, it sounded beautiful as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime and Police brutality

Moderate: Gun violence, Death, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Car accident and Medical trauma

This book is heavily centered on the military/police/authority power of the island. There is mention of death, guns, injuries, and a car accident. Also, the practice of buying wives and marrying strangers is in of itself what I consider a toxic relationship.

northernplunder's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexism, Police brutality, Death, and Misogyny

Minor: Gun violence, Bullying, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping

typedtruths's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, and Toxic relationship

reocalabra's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Police brutality, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Bullying, Gun violence, and Kidnapping