Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

15 reviews

epellicci's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.75

Let me begin by disclosing, I don't like books about the witch trails. It's a topic that gets very much under my skin, and so that was against The Mercies from the start. However the reason I didn't like this book is more than that. While the writing was easy to get along with, it doesn't go anywhere. The threat of Absalom Cornet's arrival on Vardo, and subsequent tension is dragged out far longer than any other event, as Hargrave's two main characters, Maren ad Ursa, are some of the most isolated in the book. Focusing on their relationship to Absalom and each other, much of the story is set internally between them and so as a reader, I got the impression that the main event of the story had developed without me.

The actual trials seem to begin, and were done with over the course of about a dozen pages at the end - which arrives suddenly with no resolution for Maren and Ursa. I found this incredibly disappointing given the vast majority of the book is based in teasing a romance between them during their shared solitude and fear.

Unfortunately this book felt short at several hurdles. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Chronic illness and Miscarriage

charliebriggs96's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

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

3.5

Nothing really happened for like 240 pages and then suddenly the last 80 pages is when it all happened all at once.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

quanzelle's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This historical feminist novel explains some of the hardships womxnkind has had to endure in the best way possible. It is chilling and leaves you feeling grateful for the life you have. The romantic sub plot was so well done and the love was tender and raw.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Minor: Miscarriage and Suicidal thoughts

amanda_hook's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Confinement, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death

jowmy4's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, and Pregnancy

Witch trials