Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

30 reviews

torilara's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Death of parent, Confinement, Death, Dementia, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Classism and Panic attacks/disorders

fiz23_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Child death

Moderate: Classism, Dementia, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Confinement, Deadnaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, and Violence

writteninmagic's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Dementia, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Murder, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

jmschnepp's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

We Have Always Lived in a Castle tells the story of Mary Katherine, Constance and Uncle Julian - the three remaining members of the Blackwood family. Mary Katherine narrates from her perspectives and experiences. The story begins with Merricat (Constance's nickname for her) in "the village". We learn that Constance hasn't left the yard since her family mysteriously died 8 years earlier. Its interesting to follow the train of Merricat's mind and the lengths to which she goes to maintain the life she believes she deserves.

The books was so well written, that I got caught up in Mary Katherine's story telling. She was authentic and transparent in her perspective of the world around her. However, not all that glitters is gold.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Mental illness, Confinement, Hate crime, and Murder

shieldbearer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Another book read because it was a favorite of Suzanne Collins', I did not know what to expect going into this and I really enjoyed it. A deeply layered text with so much complexity, its ambiguity is also its brilliance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Classism, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child death and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, and Child abuse

meecespieces's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Bullying, and Mental illness

Moderate: Ableism

solenekeleroux's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Dementia

emry23's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Murder

Minor: Terminal illness

echosong's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Dementia, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Bullying

vas_17's review

dark mysterious tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Classism, Child abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexism, Cursing, Murder, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Death