Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber

8 reviews

noellegrace8's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Okay why were people so mad about this book?? I do agree that there are a lot of loose ends, but doesn't that just mean we'll get more answers in some of her other books? She's coming out with a new Caraval book in a couple months. I actually haven't even read Caraval yet, mostly because I didn't know it existed, but now I think I'm going to. This trilogy was SO good.

Good things: Evajacks is as enticing as ever. And the plot introduces new elements like the two trees and Jacks' heart, which keeps the interest up. Evangeline is portrayed as having more willpower than ever (if you don't think that's possible, just wait). I like that even she has some character development in this one, not just Jacks. I also usually hate the amnesia trope but man. This one... actually does it well?? I finally understood WHY people use it. You're given even more insight into just how much Evangeline is drawn to this man (fate), that not even loss of memory can separate them. Certain characters get their comeuppance. Others' is foreshadowed...  but yeah. It was just... a well-written book.

The bad: again, loose ends. I'm confused as to why Marisol and Luc both just kind of disappeared. The history of the arch, the Valors, Jacks, etc.? That's clear as mud, still. I need more answers! Also, we really needed to have been given a glimpse into Apollo's character before meeting him in OUABH. Because his absolutely treacherous, vile behavior in this book is confusing. Was he always like this? Did the curses drive him mad? Unsure. Also, you get a quarter of the way through the book before Jacks makes an appearance, which is torture! But I also think it was done kind of well.... Additionally, I'm confused about Jacks' blood on the arch and the tavern door?? I kept expecting that maybe it's a protection spell or something? But no explanation. Just like there was no explanation for Eva's kiss breaking the spell. I have a theory that maybe someone else has to kiss him first, instead of him being the instigator? Unsure though. We better get a Lala book by the way. I need to know if she and Dain find love and break her curse. Also... how do they take out Jacks' heart and put it back in? It's just casually mentioned that we all have 2 hearts but never explained...

I give Rebecca Soler's performance 4.5/5⭐️. Too loud sometimes, but generally accurate to the text.

I give Dan Bittner 4/5⭐️. He didn't always sound the way I imagined the characters were talking, and his narration seems less organic than it should be.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

I added sexual assault/violence to the "minor" section because it's difficult to ignore the writing style of the scenes in which Apollo is restraining Evangeline, stealing memories, etc. It's written with sexual threat even if none actually happens.

zoeelora's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

kari_f's review against another edition

dark

1.5

I was going to give this book 2 stars, because it was overly frilly, and I only liked one character, and felt like it had no plot. But then the nonsensical epilogue happened. 

Tell me how a curse can have eyes and ears, enough sentience to understand human language and ability to follow and watch characters, but it doesn’t have lungs to be able to take a breath. Because THAT is where we need to suspend belief, here. Just… what?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent

anna_harpist's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

Minor: Torture

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

chronicacademia's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, and Stalking

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault, Torture, and Pregnancy

sarah_loves_books's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

tarnaflake's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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: Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail