Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Lore Olympus, Season 1 by Rachel Smythe

17 reviews

annabeth_jackson's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

bella613's review

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Ok preface to the review: this is a re-read from years ago. Lore Olympus was my first webtoon, and the comic that I attribute to getting me into all things webcomic, as well as my first real Greek mythology retelling (so I knew little to nothing about the lore, pun intended lol)

This is a great webtoon, but I think I can say that it's not really my favorite art style now, and more slow moving than I prefer my webcomics these days. It's also just ~not that deep~ and while it handles some tough subjects

(rape, trauma, confinement and even being eaten by a parent)

in a respectful way, it also doesn't do much with those subjects. If I remember correctly, season two goes further into that especially kore's rage, but for me this didn't hit nearly as hard with the re-read and I don't feel super satisfied with it. I do like it and would recommend it with TW. I'm rating it 4☆ but when I first found it (circa 2018 idk) I def would have done a full 5. 

I will say, knowing a (little) bit more about Greek mythology now I really do love how Rachel Smythe does the modernization, and I think she takes enough liberty to make it a story entirely hers while also including important "canon" details (can you call it that in this case?) I LOVE her Eros and Hecate. Sometimes Persephone is too much of a cinnamon roll to take seriously and the one thing I don't love about it is the leaning into her little girl innocence and making it a daddy trope. We obviously can't ignore the nearly 2000 year age difference, or the problematic parenting of Demeter, but do we need to exaggerate her schoolgirly-ness? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

foxclcves's review

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

franksalot's review

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Toxic friendship

ricardo_sb's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

mollydollydoodah's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I can’t say enough amazing things about this story. I just re-read most of the story & read the rest that hadn’t come out when I was originally reading it. Therefore, I’ve read it in its entirety as to what is out on Webtoon as of 8/3/22, which is Ep. 206 (with using one fastpass to complete Season 2), and I alum in complete and utter awe with Rachel Smythe as I always have been. This story has made me cackle, swoon, fume, and sob too many times to count within the past 24 hours of reading the entire thing. The way that the characters are developed is SO amazing, especially for what originally started out as a little Webtoon. The characters you love, you love wholeheartedly, and those you hate, it’s the same, but there are backstories and psychological reasons and details and so many amazing things that Rachel has done in order to make us see these characters and understand them more. My heart breaks for so many reasons because of this story, and Persephone is so extremely strong. Everything in this story is so well-balanced and well-done, between the romance and the heartache/slow burn and the complications of it all, all the trauma and having to work to move on after that, mental health problems and toxic relationships and therapy and healing to  looking at all of Hades’ dogs and just going ‘aww’. I absolutely adore the relationship between Kore & Hades and the author and how she’s conveyed such a magnificent, touching, heartbreakingly beautiful story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

glen3's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, and Alcohol

friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

sarahaurora628's review

dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

I would like to start by saying, I read the first two printed volumes and left pretty harsh reviews of them. The first got 1 star from me and the second 2 stars. Some of my issues were… 
⁃its inconsistent drawings where all of the characters have the same face
⁃the pacing (in the first volume nothing happened in 350 pages)
⁃the instalove between Persephone and Hades (and also the age gap between them)
⁃romanticizing the myth of Persephone’s kidnapping

That being said, at some point reading the rest of season 1 I was completely sucked in. I’m writing this caught up to season 2 episode 200 so some of my opinions of season 2 might trickle into this review. I still have those critiques of the beginning episodes, but after reading the whole thing I have a different view of the series as a whole.
⁃I don’t care about the inconsistencies in the art or the characters having similar faces anymore. The art style and color palette is what made me pick up the first volume to begin with and it only gets more beautiful as the series progresses. With the use of color its easy to distinguish the characters 99% of the time. The setting was a world I kept finding myself wanting to spend more and more time in.
⁃After some thought, I also don’t care that it isn’t accurate to mythology. The series never promised a history lesson, although the plot isn’t always rooted in accepted mythology there are tons of other lessons throughout the story. Lessons on the importance of communication, health vs. toxic relationships, and how to be there for someone dealing with trauma are only a few examples. I think it’s fantastic when taken for what it is.
⁃I like that events are often shown from multiple character’s perspectives
⁃Persephone shows so much personal growth and I love watching her find herself
⁃I love the growth of the relationship between Persephone and Hades
⁃Trauma, domestic abuse, sexual assault, gaslighting, and seeking help are difficult topics but I think they were handled well and depicted accurately (at least to my experience and feelings, I cannot speak for how another person may feel). I thought it had good representations and appreciated the consistent message of “its not your fault”.

There are definitely problems with this series, it isn’t perfect, but to be honest… I like it.  If you’re looking for a lesson in mythology this series isn’t for you, but if you’re interested in a creative myth retelling about friendship, coming of age, romance, and figuring yourself out, and can stick out the slow beginning you might like it. (check trigger warnings first)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility and Alcohol

mim72's review

dark emotional funny tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Infertility