Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

House of roots and ruin. La casa di radici e perdizione by Erin A. Craig

11 reviews

cosmichippie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

“A wilting flower holds just as much splendor as one on the cusp of opening. People are so quick to idolize the fresh and the new. They fetishize it.” He rubbed at his forehead, his eyes bright with fervor. “Why should we celebrate one without the other?”

I absolutely loved this book and already told everyone I know about it. Such a perfect sequel to House of Salt & Sorrows and it was so enjoyable to hangout with Verity as she's gotten older and get a different perspective from one of the sisters. The ambience and theme of this story are misty, plant filled solariums with secret gardens and passageways in the manor it's based in. The main character sees ghosts and most of the time you don't know who's real and who isn't as a reader. The mysterious, confusing, thrilling pacing of this book is so well done. There's romance and descriptions out of this world and I could perfectly envision everything. The mmc's father being a botanist and so many plant, flower, and potions being described made my plant loving heart pitter patter.

“I was crying for all the things I'd thought I'd understood but didn't. Crying for all I'd hoped for that wouldn't be.”

The story begins from the first book in this lovely duet, where Verity is older but doesn't remember the events from her childhood and is still living in Highmoor. She has become an aspiring artist and gets invited to create a portrait for a young duke in a neighboring family's home. Despite Camille, her older sisters, confusing disapproval Verity decides to leave and then arrives at Bloem and things get strange very quickly. And by quickly I mean mysterious bone chilling murders, a horrifying story from the mmc to explain why he's paralyzed from the waist down, and a very mysterious family.

The plot in this book gives me the creeps so much, the ideas and concepts that are developed in the plot throughout Verity's adventures in this manor gave me goosebumps for hours. I found it so chilling once we began meeting some of Verity's ghosts, and finding out which characters were alive and not. It was fascinating to see Verity learn about her family's history and past and as she began to recall past memories and put pieces of her life together. Very good tie ins for the series in those portions and a lot of family lore.

“The People of the Petals bury their loved ones full of seeds, stuffed into the bodies. It aids in the decomposition process, helps the dead return more quickly to the earth. Then from their death…new life.”

I enjoyed Verity and her innocent and pure heart. I also loved the two new characters that came in at the end of the book despite how the story ended. That was a twist I had no idea was coming. I don't have good enough things to say about Alex, I loved his character, and I found the romance between the two characters to be eye opening. I think the idea of watching the two fall in love for the first time over the span of weeks was so well done. The author portrayed it so innocently but equally implied how concerning it was as a reader. Erin's harrowing writing style is incredible, most of the time you know something is wrong and have such a strange feeling in your stomach but the plot hasn't come together yet and you just have to sit with it until it resolves. This book was very difficult to put down, I pretty much didn't. When I tell you I was on the ground with my jaw on the floor for the entire last few chapters I am not kidding at all. Nothing could have prepared me for how much I have enjoyed this series. This author knows how to write a solid cliffhanger epilogue. I'd happily write a dissertation on this book that's how much I loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Abortion

Moderate: Drug use, Death of parent, and Murder

jlchabotte's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Infidelity, Blood, Medical content, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, and Pregnancy

winterhartarts's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

readsavvy's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-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? No

3.5

I’m torn on this one - it’s incredibly atmospheric, immersive, gripping, a unnerving gothic fairytale turned horror and the plot twists were well executed. But there’s so many trigger warnings, I can’t call this a light read or easily recommend it without warning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Classism

sunshine_kait's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

alite428's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Moderate: Drug abuse and Sexual assault

Minor: Abortion

liltastypuff's review against another edition

dark mysterious

4.5

Another beautifully told tale by Craig. Atmospheric and encompassing with an excellent mix of creepy, comforting, and romantic. 
I use ratings to remind me how I felt about the book, and as I'm not really into the young adult genre it is a 4 star read for me. But putting my own taste aside I would say it is a 5 star young adult read. 

*A note on sexual assault, abortion, and miscarriage content warnings -

these topics are present in the story and contribute to a pivotal plot point

I do think they should be mentioned. However, they are spoken of and not described - the reader is not present for the events mentioned. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Abortion

metaphorsandmisc's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Miscarriage, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism, Violence, Medical trauma, and Abortion