Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

232 reviews

thesapphire's review against another edition

mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Blood, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Minor: Suicide

klong17's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

I LOVED it! Borrowed it from the Library but went out and bought a copy for my shelf before I’d even finished it 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

1 abusive character for first 100 pages Murder/Injuries are described but kind of artistically They are hedonistic with alcohol, drugs, and sex.

enidcoleslawww's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Fine but not a masterpiece. I expected so much more, due to how often this book is referenced in relation to Donna Tartt's magnificent book, The Secret History. That's a problem people... :) It is amazing how rich and passionate the writing is when the author actually knows what they're talking about. I'm not a Shakespeare enthusiast but surprisingly those elements of the book really won me over and the author is clearly well-versed in the art of theatre. I just wish that precise authority was true and present throughout. I liked setting and the world building but in every other way, i.e. character archetypes and development - it reeked of YA-esque fan fiction. This really cheapened its value within the genre. I found the seriousness of this elite school and how all-consuming their acting requirements were to be quite laughable. I just wasn't buying the prolific and historical academic institution. The characters are painfully obnoxious and I'm specifically referring to the way they were written, the prose is just not to be measured against works of a higher intellectual caliber. If you're looking for The Secret History 2.0, look elsewhere and stop saying this book's name in the same sentence. Don't do this writer a disservice. If you want to read about some troubled, theatrical young people clashing while in a competitive, toxic academic setting, it's not a bad read at all! P.s. If you do want to purchase the book, the illustrated 5th anniversary hardcover copy is absolutely stunning and a real treat to open.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

vvayl's review against another edition

emotional mysterious fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

haleybooks0318's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

carlab33's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

2.0

Nice writing and pacing, but the story, characters, and plot fell flat. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

wwsimon93's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

zeitfensterr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

DAS ENDE???? DAS FUCKING ENDE??? ich hasse offene enden, aber holy shit SJUhdshzhdhxhxhbsncucuffeahUdhshud??? Ich will einen Band 2 😔

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

I should’ve DNFd it. None of it felt believable. Hated every character. The whole act of devotion was wasted.  And everyone, including Colborne was complicit. Also, given Shakespeare is the one often credited with creating the concept of racism, and he having been terribly sexist, I deplore him. So there was nothing about this book that appealed to me. Really should’ve DNFd it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

iane_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, and Medical content

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism