Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Anathema by Keri Lake

22 reviews

booksandjules's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Physical abuse and Self harm

atsy6's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

It was an intensely complicated world. Tons of world building. I really appreciate the map, the Glossary and race descriptions. I frequently had to reference them. It was pretty slow going for the first 60%. After that the plot really started moving and things were developing. Overall I'm very intrigued by this world and story line and I hope the next books can focus on the plot now that the extensive world has been set up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy

wideawakenow's review against another edition

dark 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Torture

Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Pregnancy

melissalivanos's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Torture

julietrblack's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

Very dark book with some pretty heavy topics. Highly recommend looking at all the trigger warnings first. This book has every trope you would want: touch her and you die, one bed, dark and brooding MMC, and mates. Even though I've read these tropes many times, this still ended up being a fresh and new story. I'm usually not a fan of gory and graphic horror scenes, but for this book I made an exception. The world is so fascinating and I loved how the magic system worked. Nothing felt like filler and the side characters were beautifully written as well. It does end on a cliff hanger, though, so be prepared.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

doahdancer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

There was so much here to love, but not enough to say this will be in my top ten at the end of the year.

The MMC was a broody, traumatized burnt marshmallow of a man. The gothic atmosphere reminded me of One Dark Window, but with more abject horror. It was easy for me to get lost in the environment and adore the characters.

Still, the first half was paced too slowly and the second half rocketed the slow burn romance to levels I didn't feel had been earned. There were some interesting plot twists which cast doubt on the motivations of seemingly reliable characters, but they were delivered so abruptly and without fanfare that I was left more confused than surprised.

This would be 5 stars if the romance developed more slowly and the plot, which completely turned itself inside out and became sort of shapeless in its twisting, regained clarity and drive before the end.

Will keep the next on my TBR.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent

nicoleb_trippin's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

brd_emi's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Toxic friendship

prokopchuk_katie's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

cosmicnerdmom's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

4.5

Not gonna lie, the beginning was slower that I like, but by about the 20-25% mark I was getting pulled into the story. There is a lot of world building in this and a lot of hints throughout the beginning that hunt at stuff later on.

But the MCs relationship was an amazing slow burn. The side characters were also amazing. The ending has me desperately wanting the next book to come out sooner than later.

I think I will need to re-read this one to catch onto the stuff I missed the first time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Slavery, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Incest