Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek

4 reviews

alyvia_jeane's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-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

5.0

“Grandma not mad just hurt…”

I am still crying…
I didn’t have high expectations for this book at all in the beginning. I went into it blind and didn’t even know it was based on polish folklore and myths. It far exceeded my expectations and I need the physical immediately. I also cried for the last 20 pgs and had to cuddle with my boyfriend afterwards.🥲

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent

blewballoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad 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

4.5

I admit I bought this based on the cover, and I can happily say that the cover matches the tone and quality of the book very well. I would recommend this to fans of Howl's Moving Castle the Studio Ghibli film (not the book it's based on), but the atmosphere is somewhat darker and less fanciful. I would also compare it to Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, but the writing felt closer to the characters and easier to submerge into. I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrator did a great job of  handling the complex pronunciations and reflecting Liska's positive attitude in the face of danger and horror. 

I expected the ending, but I hoped I might be wrong. The epilogue offers a small glimmer of hope.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

allyareads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad fast-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

4.75

One of my favourite things in the universe is a sentient house. My other favourite is a broody, chaotic, bisexual wizard. Niche, I know but you can understand how excited I was when I found out that it wasn't just Howl's Moving Castle that fits the bill.
This is the Polish folklore version of Howl's Moving Castle (the Ghibli movie not the Diana Wynne Jones book). It's just as beautiful, atmospheric, and genuinely sweet.
It doesn't reinvent the wheel but it's a solid cozy fantasy easy read.

Thank you Penguin for the reader copy I had such a good time. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

haven't been this distraught over a book since grade eight I'm in agony I'm in mourning I'm

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic

*There is a scene where someone poisons their cow on purpose to expose another character but it's the only on page depiction of animal harm/cruelty *There is a scene that implies a character is in a abusive marriage