Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

328 reviews

erks's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.75

Not sure what I expected from this book but it was very mid. The protagonist felt very dull even during her major character development points

(also her not getting the final blow on her own father at the end, which would have been a significant character moment? She literally does nothing herself)

, and I got bored of reading her pov after chapter 5. Instead I wanted to see narratives from her sisters, heck even her dad, as awful as he is.

Also just not a fan of this writing style, if I have to read about someone's breasts or seed again I'm quitting 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Misogyny, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Vomit, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Body horror, and Emotional abuse

ska1224's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Gore, Racism, Sexual violence, War, Murder, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Body horror, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

mkumar's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Gore, and Toxic relationship

slatereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I originally rated this a 4 star - but have come back after three months of being totally unable to stop thinking about it to give it a 5 star. I don't know if it's for everyone, but I also need everyone I know to read this book.

At multiple points in this novel I wasn't expecting to rate it so highly. But Reid brings everything together so solidly in the final three chapters that it changes the entire experience - bringing the mystery and overlapping plotlines into a fully formed, clear image, and tying up threads you may even have forgotten about. 

This book grabbed me by the throat and didn't let me go until I was done reading - or even then, as I'm still thinking about it regularly days after finishing it. Marlinchen had this gradual, solid character development arc that takes you almost by surprise when you realise she's no longer the girl you started with at the beginning of the book. Sevas is sweet, and doting, and still complex - despite the book not focusing on him, you feel like you know him, and know that there are depths you don't see, as well. I wish we saw him more, but I understand how the narrative doesn't allow for it. 

I can't wait to reread this and pick up on all the hints and foreshadowing from the beginning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault and Cannibalism

nikenacs's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Xenophobia, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Violence, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Self harm

studiouspencil's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cannibalism

msrae89's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Self harm, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Murder, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Vomit

jeslo's review against another edition

dark

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Vomit, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Self harm, Gore, Pedophilia, Violence, Misogyny, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, and Body horror

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Please please please please read with care

aturb92's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A graphically beautiful fantasy horror novel. Reid writes in a folk tale style, and even when I wanted to look away I could not. This book definitely deals with freedom from an oppressive household, and finding oneself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death of parent

ellesbell's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

1.5

It felt like nothing was fully fleshed out and Reid was going for the shock factor. It felt like Reid was pulling on all of the type of events that make us want to feel empathy for a character, but never built in time for us to connect to the character or even give us time to have empathy before being frustrated by the main character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Eating disorder

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Child abuse

Minor: Cannibalism