Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian

5 reviews

elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Suicide

Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse

nicosta_music's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Half Sick of Shadows was a really great retelling of Arthurian myth. It kept a lot of the adventure and magic that is typical of the genre, but added a few more modern sentiments like strong female characters and discussions of what it meant to be a strong female in that time period. I really enjoyed how the book was themed around how far one is willing to go to protect their friends or achieve a certain destiny. My only complaints are that knowing how the story was supposed to end made the book slog at times (especially with it jumping between past, present, and future), and I also wasn't a huge fan of

the trope where women have to give up their power in order to further a man, but I guess that was the whole point the book was making anyway.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, and Colonisation

Minor: Infertility, Alcohol, and Classism

acrosstheskyinstars's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

I absolutely adored this book! It's going on my list of top books of 2024. This is a feminist retelling of the King Arthur story from the perspective of The Lady of Shalott. I've been trying to find this again ever since I read Avalon High in high school. I loved this take on the story and I honestly loved the character of Elaine. I found her relatable, as someone with a tendency to not let others get too close. I can't recommend this enough to anyone who loves retellings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

psydneigh's review against another edition

sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I did not know going into this book that it was a tragedy and thats not really my thing, so i didnt love this one. Also was really confused by the constant switching between ‘fay’ and ‘fey’

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent

tmickey's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War