Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

11 reviews

thegabscast's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-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

2.5

This book felt like it was trying to be Gothic atmosphere meets Bridgerton, but failed at both. First, the “Gothic” atmosphere really wasn’t present, there was no haunting landscape and the world building did not add to this atmosphere in any way. Second, Signa, the main character is insufferable. She’s naive, fickle (drools over every man she meets and envisions a future with them), and vapid. However, you’re meant to believe she’s spunky, strong-willed, and charming. That’s not ever shown though, you’re just told over and over again despite her being the definition of a damsel in distress. She doesn’t even figure out the mystery herself, the answer  literally has to be spelt out for her to even register it. Maybe it’s because she spends more time obsessing over boys than she does actually trying to discover the answer? The answer was also blatantly obvious within the first few chapters, but not to Signa. Death was a great character if you just pay attention to his dialogue, but not if you actually stop and think about the fact that he has no personality. His sole purpose is to be obsessed with Signa and that’s all you really get from him. There’s no depth to him, there could have been, but it’s not in this book. His dynamic with Signa initially felt oddly paternal and not romantic, so making the jump from that to his declarations of love was uncomfortable to say the least. It was insta love, but Signa is soooo childish and “just a girl” that it really just feels creepy, not to mention that she’s literally 19 years-old. The “Little Bird” nickname did absolutely nothing to help with that either. I would have loved more of Blythe and I hear the third book is that, but I’m really not intrigued enough to continue reading this series. The writing itself wasn’t bad, but these characters were so one-dimensional and there was no true depth to the story that I found myself just trying to get through it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

elliotjackson's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

This book is dark, introspective, and mysterious in the best ways. I struggled to make it through the middle of the story as the pacing slowed down, but the plot twist at the end was unexpected and gripping. Most of the characters and the way they cope with grief are handled realistically and in a way with which readers can easily empathize.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

jordyyy101's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Alcohol

chrisljm's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

2.5

honestly signa was dumb as fuck 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Classism

Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy

theresamothinmyroom's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Gore, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

kaylareads06's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming

misszoe's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

This may actually be my favorite book this year. If I could, I'd give it more stars. 
My favorite part of the book was the main character, Signa. With many books, I think its hard for me to relate to the main character. They're often the least defined in my opinion, but with this, it was very different. Signa was very much thought through but not in a way that felt forced. Her entire personality and motivations felt very logical and in tune and she turned out to be a character I very much cared for. I could feel her desperation at times but I also felt her triumphs and while this may sound dramatic, it's the best I can describe it. I loved Signa's character growth over the course of the book. It made sense even if it was painful for her. And the message at the core of it is something I think everyone can relate to.
The writing itself was wonderful. The way Adalyn Grace played with language was beautiful and I loved that the theme kept the same throughout the book. I loved the plant metaphors obviously but also the winter and night ones. They fit together beautifully. 
As for the plot, I love a good murder mystery and it gave me exactly this. I had many theories but it was hard for me to guess what was actually happening. Every character had unique motivations and their own secrets so it was fun to keep guessing what was actually going on. All the characters made sense though. Special shout-out to Death, Signa and Blythe for being my favorites. 
All in all, I can't wait to read the second book! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Body shaming

xtsukix's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

Took me a little bit to get into but I adored this and wanted to read it non-stop once I did get into it. The mystery was delectable, the romance was (a little sudden but) so sweet, very much an “I’ll burn the world if you ask me to” romance which I adoreeeee. The plot twists were intriguing and whilst Signa was not the most relatable character, we understand why she made the choices she did. I was wondering how this was going to prompt a sequel, and I’m absolutely happy with how this book ended and am super excited for the next one. I definitely want to read the entire book over knowing what I know now, even directly after reading it, which is how I know it’s a new favourite of mine. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Sexual content, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

katievallin's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.25

This was a reread. Some things were more cringey and cliche and black-and-white than I remembered. Didn't agree with all the ideals pushed, but some of the quotes have just stayed with me and found a permanent place in my mind. The audiobook narrator does an excellent job.

"Your name is no curse, Little Bird. I just like the taste of it."

"You must not allow yourself to be consumed so thoroughly by death. It's not selfish to live."

"'It's exhausting,' Signa said as she looked down to her lap, 'to pretend you are something - someone - you're not.' Blythe took her by the hand. 'Then do not spend your life exhausted.'"

"To me, you are a song to a soul that has never known music, light to someone who has only seen the darkness."

"You are no soft thing to be coddled.... You are bolder than the sun, Signa Farrow, and it's time that you burn."

"I don't want you so focused on the world of the dead that you forget to enjoy that of the living."

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Classism

anoelle896's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism