Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist

8 reviews

courtney_scott1025's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

I read this fairly quickly, because I fell into the story and was sucked in. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, the pacing, the story. My only gripe is that some elements felt rushed, but it didn't make the book less enjoyable. I have read mostly horror, and I wouldn't say this is gory or anything like that. More mystery, but I loved it regardless. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Alcoholism

Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, and Suicidal thoughts

laketwentytwo's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Vomit, Terminal illness, and Blood

Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt

siriface's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Alcoholism, Violence, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Sexual assault, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

anxiousnachos's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense

5.0

Fucking glorious. This book has slithered its vines into my head and completely consumed me. It haunts my soul. This bisexual hedonistic Gothic botanical horror has such exquisite vibes and such a wonderful pitch that I was a little worried it could never live up to what I wanted it to be - and then it did?! Iconic. It reads like a Baz Luhrmann film: somehow hazy and dream-like (or nightmarish), everything in slow-mo or reverse, I close my eyes and I can see scenes play out on my eyeballs so perfectly it has been carved into me. Poisons and sex parties and discussions of classism and murder and bisexuals and a sapphic relationship and a self-destructive man who longs for death ARE YOU KIDDING ME. 

This book was painful. It will cut you and carve itself into your soul and it will hurt. I loved every inch of it. 

Content warnings: drug use and addiction, alcohol use and addiction, chronic illness, chronic pain, non-consensual drug use including use of date-rape drugs, self harm, violence, blood, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, murder, attempted murder, classism

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Drug use, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Addiction, Blood, and Self harm

ca_risa's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

2.0

The ending was not well done I don’t think it made sense. The main leads girl betrays her and forces her hand and she just forgives her with little to no thoughts otherwise. Very inst-lovey. There was no chemistry between the main leads and  the main character was a terrible friend. Not really gothic there was no under current of darkness or horror very little revenge at all, her anger never felt fully realized.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Violence

Minor: Self harm, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

caseythereader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Thanks to Dutton Books for the free copy of this book.

 - TRIPPING ARCADIA is quite the ride! Blending gothic horror with modern nightmares and a heavy dash of queerness, it's visceral and gripping at every turn.
- I found myself quite invested in the Verdeaus in an unexplainable way just as Lena was.
- Some of the plot machinations were a bit tidy and predictable, but I still quite enjoyed the trip. I'll be interested to see what Mayquist does next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Death

e_l_bee's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

i found the first half of this book a little slow, but then i read the second half in two sittings. a brilliant plot with a lot of twists that i didn't see coming and very morally grey characters. a fun gothic poison book that had a lot to say about class. i think it could've used another round of edits though as i found the writing on the sentence/paragraph level to be a little repetitive in ways that could easily have been edited out. (though absolutely stellar use of metaphor and simile and some beautiful descriptions throughout) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

alliechase's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist grabbed me and didn’t let go! This modern-day gothic novel kept me on the edge of my seat and up well past my bedtime. Though flawed and not always good people, I cared about the three main characters and rooted for them throughout the book. Mayquist’s writing was engaging, raw, and poetic. It beautifully captured the flawed characters, the debauched Gatsby-esque parties, the anger and compassion of our protagonist, and the gothic decay and beauty of the settings. The book gave a similar feel as The Secret History by Donna Tartt (one of my favorite books!) and had a hint of dark academia within the gothic tale. You will not want to miss this book! I highly recommend pre-ordering Tripping Arcadia, especially with some attractive pre-order incentives available!

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Penguin Publishing Group for an eARC of this book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit