Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Gothikana by RuNyx

18 reviews

cleverbibliophile's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Mostly great story with memorable characters. Magnificent & mysterious setting. Sex scenes a bit cringy. Unnecessary repetitive descriptions of the same things. A bit too rushed at the end. Unanswered questions. Amateur writing. TERRIBLE editing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

jeanarabella35's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

If you're looking for a pleasure read on a sleepless night this is that book. The plot exists just to move the smut scenes between characters along but what it lacks in plot it makes up for in atmosphere. The perfect read for spooky season.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

While at times graphic and mentions mental illness, the book doesn't take itself seriously which makes it more palatable.

biancaneve5's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

isabelh0410's review against another edition

challenging fast-paced

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

0.25

Save yourself. Do not read this. It reads like poorly written self-insert fanfiction. If you are looking for smut, I'm sure there is better out there. Everything about this book was problematic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

ellarroz's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

alannashelfhelp's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

This book doesn’t know what it is. Mystery? Hardly. Fantasy? There is nothing magical or mythical, but maybe I would call it tangentially paranormal. I guess it’s romance—if you consider iffy power dynamics between a student and teacher ~romantic~

Shallow mental illness themes that are more problematic as a plot device than doing anything helpful. There is no plot and lots of sex scenes with consent issues—lots of “seed” and “I own you” things. Not my thing, bro. Barf. I read the whole thing though so that’s on me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Toxic relationship

lexcellent's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

0.25

This doesn't even deserve a quarter star. This is the worst book I've ever read. Wanted to find something to redeem it but no. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

raequigley's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

lindsayhwrites's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

2.0

Clearly never saw an editor, was wrapped in pretty packaging but full of plot holes while also not having much of a plot. Very disappointing. Particularly the negative implications and claims about mental illness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Incest

hobbit_at_heart's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

 

I really enjoyed this story! However, I will say I do not see any correlation between this story and comparing it to "dracula and beauty and the beast" aside from a girl falling for a "devil" in a castle.

The whole time I thought Vad Deverel was going to end up being a vampire or something and that never happened. So that was a touch disappointing. The smut could have been a touch better, but I won't complain.

I suck at reviews, but all-in-all, a good story. Definitely New Adult vibes. At first I was under the impression that this was set in an older timeline, however it was fairly modern with random things like the use of phones and internet was stuck in. Some of the writing was kind of cringy and I sped read through a LOT of fluffy bits that simply weren't all that necessary to have even been put into writing. Overall, good book. If Goodreads would do a 1/2 star system, this would be a solid 3.5 for me but I rounded up for the sake of having enjoyed the plot twist at the end bc I never would have seen it coming. Wild ride at the end!

HEA was corny as SHIT.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit, Medical content, and Stalking

Minor: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Toxic friendship