Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Varjo ja riipus by Leigh Bardugo

101 reviews

uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

adventurous informative lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

Minor: Body shaming, Blood, and Vomit

bookishdreamer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and War

Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, and Death of parent

orchidlilly's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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? No

3.5

Fantasy not-quite-Imperial-Russia with weird magic people is a pretty neat premise. I really appreciate the world building, which feels realistic but not so overtly 'just Russia' that it pulls you out. The magic is fun, even though it isn't very in-depth, and the plot as a whole is very gripping. Mostly, the characters are the biggest issue. Insofar as they don't have much personality. Alina is just a bland YA fmc, the Darkling is just broody hot and evil, Mal is good and also hot, and I can smell the love triangle from a mile away. It's not terrible, though, just very full of the standard YA cliches. I also don't generally love first person, but the writing is good enough that I can overlook it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Slavery

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

vnfhcxksiw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

The world and magic systems are creative yet also rooted in reality without holes that leave me asking logic questions. I love the complexity of Alina and the surrounding characters who bring the story together. Book 1 is as much about sacrifice and belonging as it is becoming who you are meant to be. Many of the shocking moments felt half expected for me because of my consideration of the characters. One event that should have been predictable took me off guard, having thought I understood the Darkling's motivations and calculations. Ravka is a country I would not want to live in, because it is very dark and deadly. Those qualities are what I love about the book, though, along with the Russian influences of the world. Starting this series took me entirely too long. Most of the book I read in 2 days. I would have liked more flashbacks of Mal early on to bring forth more sympathy about him and Alina's loss of her friend, but their present time together feels reminiscent of the past in a weird way. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and War

Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

pooxs's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

junglejelly's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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

4.75

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and sped through it. I really enjoyed the simple but effective world building. 

While there are many things to like about the book, there were a few things that didn't make it quite perfect. I wanted more:
* Grisha lore;
* location descriptions;
* and connection with the prologue and epilogue.

While not perfect, I couldn't put the book down and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I thought it was a good book! I went into it knowing a ton of people like it, which I think was my problem - I was expecting exceptionality, and though the book definitely was, it didn't live up to the hype in my head. I still would definitely recommend it though!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lucien_png's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Emotional abuse