Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Bohové jadeitu a stínu by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

5 reviews

wooblatoober's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful tense medium-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

4.75

so glad i read this. i enjoyed it so much & it had an ending that i had wanted to see in a novel for quite some time, which makes it very special. i wasn’t sure about, then eventually loved, the semi-omniscient narration. i thought it was interesting and different, yet wasn’t distracting, & helped to make certain moments more impactful. i felt like something was missing in regards to the romance as i read, but that’s likely purely personal since i couldn’t tell you what it was that i felt was missing. i definitely loved the climax of the story.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD

the race through the black road & what happens on it kept me on the edge of my seat. moreno-garcia did an amazing job of writing cassiopea’s descent into irrationality on the black road, & her descent into thinking she’s old, when she “strays” from the path. VERY well-written, as its seamlessness reminded me of my own descents into psychosis that i’ve had. i REALLY appreciated that she chose not only to do the right thing (go to the black road), but ALSO to live her life after. after an entire romantic buildup, an ending where it just simply doesn’t happen, and where the life she’s about to live independently is more romantic than the relationship she would have had, is very special to me. i also like that the reader is unsure whether she’ll be able to be with him after her death, or, better put, after her life. i almost like to think it won’t happen, & that that’ll be okay. but i also like the idea of him watching her fall deeper in love with life, while falling deeper in love with her. but i think i like the first one more. it’s melancholy & beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Loved this book. Main character is fantastic. Imagery is easy to visualize. A strong morality story for life lessons. This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I think I’m officially a fan.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

liesthemoontells's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.25

Thoughtful, lyrical, and charming. A beautiful fantasy infused with a cultural background and mythology that many western readers may not be aware of, but written in a way that was engaging and accessible to newcomers, and with a gorgeous ending. A very welcome entry into the "reimagined Death God" subgenre.

Good for fans of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, or Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sai_like_sigh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, and Colonisation

Minor: Animal death, Death, and Abandonment

star crossed lovers, suicide as plot device, self-sacrifice, Cinderella trope

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

Surprisingly the only book by Silvia Moreno Garcia I didn't really love. It might be because it's the only one I listened to as an audiobook. I liked the characters overall and the story overall but something about it didn't grab and hold me like her other books I've read. I would zone out listening and couldn't get myself to rewind to try to listen to it again. I always love the setting of old Mexico though, and I loved using the folklore as a major part. The concept and everything was interesting, but I just couldn't fully enjoy it. It's not bad by any means, just not as good as her others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail