Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - Beyond the Ruby Veil

Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Beyond the Ruby Veil by Mara Fitzgerald

7 reviews

ziracrow's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

1.5

This book was disappointing to me, since the setting and premise have a lot of promise, and I genuinely enjoyed the worldbuilding. However. I have never been so annoyed with a MC. She treats her best friend terribly and constantly talks down to him, behaves in the most narcissistic way possible, and consistently abuses those around her for no reason. There's a difference between making an "unhinged chaotic evil heroine" willing to go to extremes and writing a blatantly abusive narcissist that makes terrible decisions & shows no sign of any character development. It's a miracle I didn't DNF.

Content Warnings

edelyra's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

megselyane's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

yaelaed's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

kylahken's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

The definition of an unreliable, narcissistic narrator and I LOVE it. Every new addition to the book is caused by the narrators utter lack of empathy and drive for some level of fame, even if it is infamy. But, there are a few scenes where you see glimpses of her humanity, and some parts that left me desperate to keep turning the pages they were so filled with primal desire. Not a super dark, hard read, but not a classicly cliche YA easy read either.

Will caution that this is not a book for the faint of heart when it comes to blood or gore in the slightest.

Content Warnings

ladymickbeth's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

The whole time I was reading, I was waiting for Emanuela to have just a little character development. Maybe a bit happened at the end when she admits she needs her best friend, but other than that, she remains obstinately self-centered. I originally liked her character and thought she would be interesting, but she never went beyond her need for power and glory, and she seemed just to be using Ale and always telling him how he’s useless without her. Maybe she’ll develop further and realize some of her strengths come with flaws holding her back, but I don’t know if I’ll read the next book because this one was so disappointing.

Content Warnings

deideo's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.0

Content Warnings

More...