Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Brink by Holden Sheppard

4 reviews

traceyanderson's review

challenging dark tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Grief, Body shaming, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Drug use, Animal death, Blood, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

jess64au's review

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.0

This book is clearly aimed at Male YA readers.  I found most of the characters unlikable and wonder if teenagers would connect with the flawed characters or not.  I did spend the first section of the book waiting for the "twist" that would change their lives.  I felt the second half of the book was quicker and stronger than the first half.  The alternating voices while very effective were sometimes hard to keep track of and I had to flip back to confirm who was telling the story at certain points.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Death, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Sexual harassment

Minor: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault

anxiousnachos's review

dark tense

4.5

Reread of a LoveOzYA favourite. This is so raw and messy and such an absolute ride. 

Content warnings: panic disorder, anxiety, drug and alcohol use and abuse, extreme bullying, internalised homphobia, homophobia, homophobic slurs, misogyny, death, violence, addiction, murder, blood, animal cruelty, animal death, sex

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Sexual content, Alcohol, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Homophobia, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Misogyny

jesslemreads's review

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Cursing

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol