Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

5 reviews

madamenovelist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Abandonment, Blood, Gore, Grief, and Confinement

Minor: Trafficking

There is a brief mention of a child being rescued from sex trafficking. The emotional/physical abuse, blood, gore, and violence are all very graphic. Not for the sensitive.

erandle's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Body horror

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, Suicide, Addiction, and Bullying

clea's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad fast-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

3.0

The premise of this novel sounded very interesting and the world where the stoty took place was intruiging (yet a little confusing). 
But the heavy focus on the romance made me lose interest (I'm not a big fan of the insta-love trope) and overshadowed the more compelling storylines and characters. 
I liked the haunted atmosphere Blackwood created and the action scenes were fun. 
Although the novel tackled a lot of heavy topics, it didn't leave an impression on me. But as I have not read Jane Eyre, I possibly missed some underlying  nuances and deeper meaning. 

Overall, it was an entertaining read with complex characters. 
If you are looking for a romance taking place within a creepy/gothic atmosphere and you like YA fantasy, I think you will adore this book ! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Blood, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Colonisation, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery

emily_mh's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

I started off LOVING this Jane Eyre retelling. I thought that Blackwood did such a good job at creating Rochester’s desperation in Magnus and the dialogue between Andromeda and Magnus felt as dramatic and devoted as it did in the original. The setting was also really intriguing. However, I liked the book less and less as time went on. There was a lack of context historically and geographically which made it difficult for me to place the book. The romance became the sole focus to the detriment of the more interesting cleansing-the-household plotline. And also the drama in that romance was SO contrived; at some points I didn’t even know what they were disagreeing about. Most importantly, I don’t think it worked well as a Jane Eyre retelling. There was a lack of atmosphere, and also none of the themes of coming-of-age/character development that really makes Jane Eyre stand out to me. Also, the romance in the original is an important part, but not the ONLY part, which is kind of how it ends up in this book. Moreover, I don’t think the toxic relationship between Andromeda and her mentor is given the gravity that it deserved. I also thought that the whole concept of disabilities coming from the attraction of the Evil Eye was super problematic. 

I would by no means say this was bad, it just didn’t live up to the expectations it set and instead presented an average, slightly gothic instalove romance. As a side note, I did listen to the audiobook and thought it was okay. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Ableism

Minor: Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Gun violence, Racism, Drug use, Mental illness, Slavery, War, Excrement, Rape, Pedophilia, and Suicide

Menstruation, drowning, chronic pain

marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

In historical Ethiopia, Andromeda is a debtera in desperate need of a job.  A nineteen-year-old exorcist and religious worker, Andi can cleanse things—and people—of the Evil Eye.  Having grown up in poverty on and off the street, the only person she trusts is herself.  Despite the fact that many more experienced than she have already run screaming from the haunted mansion where she’s just been hired, Andi believes in her ability to complete the job—if not for herself then for the cursed heir who’s gradually stolen her heart.  But the Evil Eye’s presence here is much worse than she’s ever imagined.  This retelling of Jane Eyre is the spooky, sensual, Black-authored read of your nightmares. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Animal death