Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang

30 reviews

elienneg's review

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment

themelodyofspring's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was surprisingly good. Kept me at the edge of my seat. I had suspicions about the culprit, and I liked how I was wrong but still close. At least the one person I trusted turned out to be good 😊
Trigger warnings: substance abuse, withdrawal symptoms, domestic abuse.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

sas_ram's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.75

Review might follow soon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

mammut's review

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Classism

lizziegracereads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

This is an atmospheric historical fictionn. It is set in Gilded age New York City with a series of murders that look suspiciously like vampires are the culperates. 

Tilly as an interesting character as she struggles in the upper class society she is raised in and to just exist  as herself  when her individuality is crushed by the societal expectations. Tilly wants to be a reporter like Nellie Blye but she is expected to marry and be a well behaved and well mannered young lady even though she is struggling with the death of her sister and wants to have answers. The romance was sweet and I enjoyed. 

I found the representation of addiction and substance use to be well done and humanizing as well as relatable. One part of the story that I appreciated was how Tilly's use of opium is tied to her family try to control her and her behavior which they do not approve of. 

The plot twist was unexpected and well done at the end. I also appreciate that Nellie Blye made an appearance in the story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use

noblecharley's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse

lanid's review

adventurous dark mysterious

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Alcohol

gquintana's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Violence and Vomit

outsmartyourshelf's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

In 1899's New York City, eighteen-year-old Tillie Pembroke’s older sister, Lucy, has just been found murdered, her body drained of blood & with two puncture wounds on her neck. Tillie can't help but think this bears a resemblance vampire killings alluded to in Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula which has just been published. Her grandmother & mother seem to want to forget it ever happened, & the police have run out of ideas, so taking inspiration from her favourite journalist 'Nellie Bly', Tillie decides to investigate. She soon meets up with a newsie, Tom, (a young man who sells newspapers on street corners) who also has an interest in the case. Trouble rears its head in the form of Tillie's growing addiction to opium, originally prescribed for an injured shoulder, & the fact that Lucy's fiancé, James, now seems to have set his sights on Tillie.

This would have been a 4 star read if it hadn't been for the main character. I found her a bit tiresome to be honest. She is supposed to be eighteen but acts younger, in some ways she is very naïve. I can tell you that if my sister's fiancé tried to pay court to me after she had just been murdered, I would not be flattered in the slightest. The story itself is rather good, with some darker elements, & the hesitant romance between Tom & Tillie is quite sweet. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Miscarriage and Sexual content

sandy50689's review

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Gaslighting

Minor: Physical abuse