Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

59 reviews

matcha_pages's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

A cautionary tale of what happens when believing in the power of fairy tales becomes all consuming. 

It's hard to describe this book, other than be prepared for a very sumputious, atmospheric, and dark experience. There's a lot of flowery language and lush scenes that are meant to invoke your senses. It portrays reality in a magical breathtaking way, but slowly the cracks of something obsessive and sinister appears. 

A word of caution - one of the characters is a toxic, possessive, and dangerous person. The power this person holds over other is romanticized to fit the story. So just be warned if that triggers you.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death

toodrew's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This is hands down one of the best books I've ever read. There is very little I can say about the book without spoilers. It is better to read without knowing much about the book.

I believe this book is best suited for fantasy and fairy tale enthusiasts. 

Every element is a brushstroke in this absolute masterpiece. But be prepared for trauma. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Incest, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

longstorysteph's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Animal death

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Child death, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness

Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, and Sexual content

dropshift5568's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Death, and Abandonment

prairieraven's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Sexual content, Bullying, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Rape

rayreyes's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

1.75

Overall, boring sad and unpleasant. Trauma porn turned into magical realism. Flowery and boring. Child abuse and a pedophilic creep peppered throughout. Lame.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

bookedandbusy's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was an absolutely magical fairy tale. It was atmospheric and eerily beautiful. It shows the ways that love and friendship can fully consume us. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault

katmystery's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

Fairytale-inspired horror about toxic relationships and self-deception. It wasn’t quite horror in the violence sense- it wasn’t too gory or icky- but in the atmospheric sense. It had a pervasive bleak, unpleasant, and sickly mood, which is typical for the horror genre and something I personally do not enjoy. Recommended to fans of the original Grimm’s fairytales, in all their messed up glory.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Death, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Murder, Gaslighting, and Animal death

Moderate: Grief and Pedophilia

madamenovelist's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Child death, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gore, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment and Classism

Minor: Incest