Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Merciless by Danielle Vega

10 reviews

bashsbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

To be honest, The Merciless was not what I would call a great book. I started it three or four times before I finally committed to finishing it - and the only reason I felt compelled to do that is because I impulse-bought the entire series at Barnes & Noble six or so years ago. This is billed as a teen horror on par with Stephen King, which is a laughable comparison. The plot twists were predictable and boring, and not much actually happened, despite Vega's desperate attempts to make it seem like there was a lot going on. It was just a slog through a nothing burger. Also, gore and grossness alone don't make a piece of media good horror. They have to serve a particular theme or plot in an interesting way. This book had so much potential, too, in its premise - a teen mil brat moves to a new town and gets embroiled with religion? That's a great premise. But it was rushed and it was nothing. Disappointing.

I may eventually read the other three books... but only because they're sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

-Graphic descriptions of insects (specifically cockroaches) -Religious trauma

anfabu_2002's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Murder, Gore, Death, Cursing, and Blood

Moderate: Bullying and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Kidnapping, Drug abuse, and Drug use

ilaxaria's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Death, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Torture, Animal death, Alcohol, Violence, Animal cruelty, Religious bigotry, Blood, Gaslighting, Bullying, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Self harm, Drug abuse, and Vomit

Minor: Sexual harassment and Infidelity

_azure76's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Animal cruelty, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Vomit, Alcohol, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Violence

aliteraryadventure's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book went left really quick and I was not ready for it. Jesus Danielle Vega can pull you into a scene and keep you there whether you like it or not.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Grief, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Death, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore

ratchel_l's review

dark 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: Death, Torture, and Toxic friendship

werewolvesnotswearwolves's review

dark tense

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Alcohol, Murder, Physical abuse, Gore, Blood, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Animal death, Body horror, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Dementia, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Self harm

ginalee52's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This book is so weird. I cant tell if i hate it or love it. The gist is that its mean girls but make it torture porn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Toxic friendship

ghouligan's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

mikayyyla's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Parts of this book made me physically sick to read but I could not put it down. I wish it had been longer and gave more background on the complex characters, but still a good read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Torture, and Toxic friendship