Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

21 reviews

moh_pa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug abuse

bella613's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

mgmsharpe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.25

This was really good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

lisettemarie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Trafficking, Murder, and Abandonment

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

4.0

This book gives a first-hand look at the ways power corrupts and makes victims of young women, especially women of color. I found myself rooting so hard for something to go right in Kiara’s life but that just never seems to manifest. I felt sad for her and helpless knowing her situation yet being on the outside looking in and being unable to assist. This book is very realistic and will make you angry — wanting to fix all the things that are so wrong in our society and the world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

anenome's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense 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? No

4.75

This story was heartbreaking. Incredibly sad, it incites real anger, such an important story to tell.

It took me a while to warm to the narrator, I found her annoying for the first two chapters. Then I loved her, I've never missed a character so much when a book has ended, an original voice.

The ending was too abrupt and open for me. I didn't like Ale, she was a weak friend and always got a free pass for abandoning Kiara.

Between the dark parts of the book there's a lot of humour, it feels balanced.

If there was more to Kiara's story I would read it in a heartbeat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Stalking, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

libellumartinae's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

4.0

I don't know how to feel this book. I didn't expect an easy read when I first started it but I certainly didn't expect either what it came with. The story is so scarily terrifying, especially upon discovering it's based on real facts, and I absolutely felt interesting the whole context and plot in which the author developed it, switching swiftly from a more journalistic style or a more personal one that allows to see in time everything the main character feels while also following the trail of events.

I didn't fully enjoy the writing and I thought that the ending was a mess, because although I understood how it finished at the same time I felt like it could have handled with a bit more of slowness.

It's utterly a story that will stay on my chest for days and won't leave me. It's an haunting tale that I'd encourage you to read - obviously being aware of the tws - because it certainly will help you on understanding and opening your eyes on different aspects of our rotten society.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

pkc's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.0

It would be weird to summarise a book like this by saying whether I “enjoyed it” or not. It’s not the sort of the book where there’s much to enjoy in terms of a bleak plot and a pervading sense of hopelessness. I will say, there are snatches of poetic writing in amongst the darkness that Kiara, the protagonist is subject to. I also think Kiara is an excellently realised protagonist. Her arc is perfectly plotted and it’s easy to follow her story and invest in her life. 

I will say though, if you’re looking for a neat and traditionally happy resolution, this book won’t do it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

kaimetcalfe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Blood

Minor: Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Grief

issyd23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective relaxing sad tense slow-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

3.0

Harrowing! Child turns to sex work to pay bills thanks to deadbeat family. Horrifyingly inspired by true events. NB ACAB! 3🚔

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism