Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Weyward by Emilia Hart

97 reviews

aimoftheme's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.25

I've been thinking about this book a lot since I finished it the other day, and so many things have been weighing on my mind.

First, the good. I loved the vibes of this book. The cottagecore aesthetic screamed Pinterest witch learning crystals and tarot, which is right up my alley. I also loved the female characters of this book, and the relationships they forged with other women. #supportwomensrightsandwrongs if you know what I mean.

However, some things in this book really rubbed me the wrong way.

I didn't like how sexual assault and pregnancy was used as a plot device for two of the main characters.

It just felt a bit overused by the time I reached the end of part two.

I also didn't like the endings for two of the characters.

Violet inadvertently causing the death of Kate's father felt flat to me. It felt so out of character and really just destroyed all meaning the flashback had. I was also frustrated when Altha's character decided to sleep with a man just to get pregnant. Why not leave it up for interpretation?! We know she continues the Weyward line, but do we really have to know who and why? Again, completely destroyed her character. Altha clearly had no interest in men (the subtext of her friendship with Grace screams lesbian to me) so it felt extremely out of character for her to simply ask a man to "plant his seed" so she could have a child. Would have been better to not mention it, and leave the reader wondering. Maybe she bewitched a random man later on? Or did some other ritual? SO many options.

This leaves me feeling highly disappointed in this book. While I enjoyed the writer's style and descriptions, other factors just ruined the experience for me. In saying that, would I recommend it? Yes, but please check the content warnings before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Stalking, and Car accident

Minor: Abandonment and War

sar_willow's review

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and War

kshertz's review

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

It was a wild ride. I enjoyed both stories and how they come together. I definitely think it was worth a read just to see how it ends!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

bibliophileamber's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I loved this more than what I thought that I  would have! I loved that it tells a story in three generations at different time periods for this one family. I loved it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Abortion, and Abandonment

jillaay_h's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

lillianfc's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

bluedart91's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Abandonment

ladynavalon's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

kelly93's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Incest, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

godfrina's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Three women's stories through the centuries, centering on their suffering, horrific abuse and mistreatment mostly at the hands of men. The writing itself is beautiful and I guess it's meant to read as a story of "female resilience".
However, it taught me predominantly two things:

1. I must stop getting seduced by gorgeous cover art 
2. I cannot stomach stories about misogynistic physical and emotional abuse 🤷🏻‍♀️

2 stars for the writing style and tackling the issues at hand. 
Content warnings longer than this review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Abortion

Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit, Car accident, Colonisation, War, and Classism