Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

30 reviews

arieslofi's review against another edition

dark lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

well! i want to say that the premise is something that i really enjoyed, and it's only its execution that i wasn't an absolute fan of, including some of the writing, though not all. the writing itself felt very "try-hard" with its weird britishifcations that reminded me of 2013 when everyone was obsessed with the uk and everything british (as i mentioned in a previous update), with repetition that happened far too often, not the kind that serves as some sort of writing device (this does happen and i do enjoy it), but the kind that makes you wonder if there was any kind of editing involved in the publication of the book. besides that, the writing isn't too bad and didn't get on my nerves too much, and i actively enjoyed some parts of it.
i really liked the character of mary ann especially, though i'll say cath was neither here nor there and jest completely failed to be compelling to me,

which made his death

kind of pointless to me. speaking of pointless: the romance.
this book could have been really good, personally, if we hadn't had any type of romance involved, only a girl losing her dreams and having to deal with being stuck in a loveless marriage with the king until she snaps. i would even have enjoyed it if there had been romance involved, though differently. if, for example,

instead of jest taking her away and the last 30% happening the way they did, she had, just like before, stuck with the king, a fool (which could have served as a callback in dialogue!) only for jest to come back and her, tired and betrayed, called for his head. he was, after all, a wanted criminal,

it would have worked perfectly, and it was how i was expecting the book to end.
the ending itself felt unsatisfactory to me,

there was no real build-up to this sudden change in her behavior (though we are given a reason) and we only get a glimpse of it some chapters before. i feel like showing her ability to be genuinely evil and ruthless throughout the book would have worked better—even if we kind of get those moments in very small doses, like her stealing from the pumpkin patch and her intensity at playing croquet, although this latter felt more like a "this happens in the original story!" bit.

generally, not a bad book, per se, but it left me wanting a lot more, so i can't say i'm exactly happy with it. the premise is much better than the execution itself, though it only goes south around 70% of the book for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Eating disorder, Gore, and War

henleymadelyn's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Body shaming and Emotional abuse

annasneddon's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Murder

karissahodge's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood

vi08's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

abby_can_read's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

📱
This was a book that I enjoyed reading. I think Meyer's writing style is more fairytale inspired than fairytale retelling. I would say this book was a combination of prophecy, romance, Victorian-era gender roles, and the weirdness that can only be found in Wonderland. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Kidnapping and War

hopelessplatonic's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Body shaming and Emotional abuse

Minor: Mental illness, Blood, and War

torrents's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Grief

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Murder

Minor: War

solouncapitulomas's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

“It is a dangerous thing to unbelieve something only because it frightens you.” 

I grew up reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and I have to say this book reached every expectation, I think Lewis would've been proud. Such an amazing writing I could picture myself in Wonderland once again and THE PLOT omg, it left me aching, I knew the ending and dared to hope 
(like the fool that I am) damn, I will not be able to hear the word fool every again...thanks Marissa, I will be reading more of your books ma'am bc I do love me some pain.

<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6SA85E1XbXKpC5NcHeb44T?si=4e7f44275a164984">heartless amazing playlist</a>

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Blood

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and War

kbairbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I am shooketh. This was so fucking good. Goddamn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcohol