Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

8 reviews

monstrouscosmos's review against another edition

I really enjoyed the world building, and the exploration of each character as individuals as well as their group dynamics. the perspective taking of the chapters was also interesting, and the narrators all added nuance to their performances in ways I appreciated (especially during internal monologues). unfortunately Part 6 definitely got too trigger heavy for me, and I found the expositions started to get both much longer and much less believable. not the book for me, unfortunately! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

I put all the triggers I remembered in "moderate", though some would definitely be better described as "minor" or "graphic".

anaisdai30's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

luciiee's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

anniereads221's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

4.5
I wanted to come back to this book to review because why not and maybe I will do more reviews like this, probably not though.

The characters are all pretentious assholes, there I said it, but they all have their flaws and things that make you like them a little bit at least.

Though I did expect everyone to kiss in this book or be a thing, I was like these two should date, not these two. but whoever gets with who I am just having a good time that is for sure.

I resonated with Libby more than I thought I would, but her anxiety really came through and her just asking all the questions to be absolutely sure of something, that is me all over.

The only character that I ever had trouble liking out of the main 6 was Callum and I am hoping for that to change in the second book because there is definitely more to him than we get to see. But if not oh well I will continue to root for the others over him. no biggie.

Give me fantasy elements, dark academia and asshole characters that have to interact, and I am probably gonna have a great time!! I am excited to see where this series will take us too next

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

clfknit's review against another edition

dark 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

2.5

I did not care for any of the characters and that is a problem since from the first someone is going to die. I don’t consider it a spoiler because it is on the cover. It is clearly a first of a series which I may not read. I was going to give it a two but the most interesting part is the end so I will give it more. I wasn’t going to finish it but I am glad I did. I am clearly not the target audience

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Murder

kaytrain's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious reflective tense slow-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? Yes

3.0

Academic rivals are a trope that I typically take only minor interest in. School was more often a collaborative than competitive affair for me, so it clashes with my experience, leaving me baffled at who has the energy for it. This book had me convinced within the first chapter. YES Libby, Nico is clearly the worst. Continue with your banter. Shoot to emotionally maim. Not only was I convinced, but I was having a great time. 

In fact, all six POVs quickly brought me under their thrall by eliciting strong reactions with their voices. I could give an itemized summary of how I feel about any of them and why because each character is so carefully formed and fills a specific role in the group. The sometimes vicious competition among them adds another layer, as I came to support certain alliances while wishing other liaisons a swift death for the threat they posed to themselves or others through their choices. I found myself irrevocably interested in all the characters' sharp edges, their darkest thoughts, their jangling worries at odds with their lofty ambitions. I admired the unexpected pathways the characters followed, the twisty growth to their relationships, and the queer (pan representation at minimum--most of the characters seem fairly fluid in terms of sexuality) and BIPOC representation (Black, Japanese, Persian, and Cuban protagonists). 

I did get stuck on a couple points. For one, my initial investment in the characters was a bit frayed by the end. This was partially due to choices made in the quest for power and partially related to the way the cast would fixate on each other's perceived weaknesses, amplifying them for the reader. A related concern is that I'm not sure there was a single relationship I wouldn't ultimately categorize as toxic and/or unbalanced. It's not glorified, which I appreciate, but I personally need at least one strong, supportive bond to hold onto in a story. It's what keeps me motivated and excited to come along for the darker bits. 

In terms of world-building, the magic system isn't necessarily revolutionary, but the periods of academic contemplation regarding different abilities and talents left me in the dust as a matter of both mental fortitude and attention span. I may be a science teacher, but honestly, ew physics. 

I liked that the story seems to be winding up for some intriguing commentary on power and institutions, on knowledge and ambition. Already, there were some fun asides and acute observations that I highlighted as fuel for my dark, cynical worldview that Tristan would surely appreciate. Dark academia fans will especially find a lot in these pages to live up to the hype. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

fromlindenmere's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail