Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

13 reviews

erinreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This book just didn’t grip me. I felt like the first 75% of the book moved really slowly and I felt myself getting bored. The reveal of

the Nightmare being the old king

also felt prolonged—it was fairly obvious that this was the case so when it was “revealed” to Elspeth and the reader, it just felt underwhelming. I don’t enjoy when it feels like the author is underestimating the reader, and this was one of those times.

I also wasn’t a big fan of the romance, but that may be personal preference as I don’t enjoy the “love at first sight” trope. 

The concept of the story—a bargain with a greater entity that takes more each time one asks for favors—is really compelling, and the ending was interesting. I just wanted the whole book to be as eventful and impactful as the last 25%. 

Read if you like dark fantasy involving bargains for power with a tiny bit of romance. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual content, and Child death

scarlett_f's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Toxic relationship, Death, Body horror, Confinement, Violence, and Bullying

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Vomit, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Grief, Child death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Drug use and Domestic abuse

janieboucher's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, and Mental illness

Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Child death

Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

kennyleigh1999's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was so unique and unlike anything I’ve read. The fantasy elements were well crafted, and the magic system is SO cool. Throw in a little romance, and this is what you get. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Death

Minor: Domestic abuse

ihonkfordragons's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-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? No

4.5

Loved this book! The mystery kept me guessing, but at the end I could look back and see all the hints had been there all along. The Providence  Cards, the magic system, and the overall world had great dark fairy tale vibes. I cannot express how much I enjoyed the use of rhyme in this story!! Great change of pace. 🌶🌶 Very mild spice but a very tender romance with a slow, gradual build that felt so natural and right.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse

mzquirk's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Confinement, Bullying, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence

athenap92's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse

cashcatz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse

katievallin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Abandonment, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Terminal illness, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Sexism

wildflower_magic's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

What a captivating story! I loved the card component and it's similarities/differences to Tarot. I found the characters loveable/hateable as appropriate in the story. I loved the slow build romance but it wasn't the main focus of the book (not much spice). The magic was intriguing and I was so interested in the Nightmare. He gave Cheshire cat vibes which is my JAM. There were a few spots where descriptions were odd to me and there's a spoiler that I foun  obvious and discovered in chapter 3 that the main character didn't discover until chapter 22 so I grew a little impatient waiting for her to put the pieces together. Overall I was obsessed and read most of this in one day. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Blood, Child death, and Violence

Moderate: Self harm, Police brutality, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury