Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

504 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

booksandcatsand's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

Okay, my copy did not say gothic horror on it, so be warned: this book is dark!! And maybe not for everyone. 

That being said, the writing was beautiful and rich and creepy, and I want to read it again someday.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cannibalism, Body horror, Physical abuse, Self harm, Vomit, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

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

plutomist's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Gore, and Sexual assault

toastyghosty13's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

3.25

This book was exceptionally dark. I thought I had an idea of what might happen in this book based on a different book I read by the same author (A Study in Drowning) and was still surprised. This book follows Marlinchen, the youngest of 3 girls in a family with a widower. She repeatedly draws the short end of the stick on everything from looks, social skills, chores throughout the house, and treatment from her father and sisters. Their mother is no longer with them and she does her best to enjoy life while being the daughter of an abusive father, the famed last wizard in the town they live in and who has also been cursed by a witch whose livelihood he ruined. 

Marlinchen entertains her sisters' midnight shenanigans of sneaking out to see the ballet and she falls in love with the dancing, and more specifically the leading man dancing in it. 

This goes on to be a story of betrayal and finding love in even the darkest of places. It is a very dark story that made it difficult to get through sometimes, but still was very satisfying to read. I recommend to anyone that likes dark books and characters who have all the odds stacked against them. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

lydiasturges's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-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

What beautiful writing. 

The quiet despair of Marlinchen was utterly breathtaking and tragic. I loved the simultaneous whimsy and horror of the story. I do enjoy a good unreliable narrator who just doesn’t know what’s going on and gives off the vibe that they are slightly losing their mind. The abuse she suffered at the hands of her family should have made her mean and cruel, but Marlinchen really is a kind person. I also loved Sevas. A delightfully complex character who cares so deeply. 

While some aspects of the story were easy to see coming, I didn’t care because it was executed so well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse

bibliograflieg's review against another edition

dark

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Sexual assault