Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe

34 reviews

tyras_bookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

(My review is for the series as a whole.) 

The world building, the storytelling, how Smythe deals with trauma and the characters healing 👏🏾 

I started reading in 2020 so it’s hard to sum up something that’s been running for so long but my favorite parts:

• Persephone’s arc; gaining confidence in herself, owning her mistakes, healing from her past, growing into a brave woman and (sometimes wrath-filled) queen. 
• Their relationship; the pining and slow burn with a big payoff.  (The age gap is uncomfortable, she’s 19 vs he’s like as old as time but the characters address it and it’s fantasy so you let it slide). There’s a lot of trust, respect and care in their relationship and it’s nice to see it grow. 
• All the artwork is really pretty!  
• Apollo and Kronos getting exactly what they deserve as terrible, violent beings. 

I’d read it again in a heartbeat and wish I could start it over. 

Very well done and it’s bittersweet to see it end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

danimacuk's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

pinkupengu's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexism, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

fallnangel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This books deals with serious issues, that need to be addressed more. There are very dark themes, be warned some of theme deals with generational trauma, child abuse and sexual assault. I loved watching the art grow as the story did

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

This story deals with serious themes and needs to be read with caution. Even though it is put in an easy to digest form.

marie_soleilh's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This is story is an emotional rollercoaster! The art is truly beautiful and I quickly found myself fully immersed in the story. Although there are some challenging parts to read, I love most of the characters (especially Eros, Hades, and Persephone) and became quickly attached to them. I read this story through the webtoon website first, and had to pick up the print version because I immediately wanted to re-read it. I would recommend the print version since it has extra/exclusive chapters!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

The theme of sexual violence is very present in this series, so please be advised before reading (it is still a great story though and I recommend it to anyone trying to heal from their own wounds)

nailartklaudia's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault

celery's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

vr_alyssa's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

4.0

I was a bit doubtful about Lore Olympus as a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth - mainly because I have been reading a lot of retellings, but most of those were 'serious'. I was worried about the vibe of this series, as it seemed quite child-like. But it is honestly so much fun (!!) - and definitely not child-like in terms of target audience. The deities are the perfect amount of childish and dramatic, the personalities and drawings fit very well. On to volume 2! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual content

cassiecraycray's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

This story is beautiful. The artwork is amazing.
I absolutely love Persephone and Hades, they are so adorable and their interactions so sweet. 
I think its amazing how she's portraying the different gods and goddess. She's flipped the script on how some are portrayed, Hera isn't some cruel goddess in this story. It's refreshing and wonderful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Toxic friendship

mmontgomery's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship