Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Glitterland by Alexis Hall

15 reviews

queen_of_crows's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This isn't a book I would have picked up on my own. When I found it, I was on the warpath to find some hard-core high fantasy. I talked to a lady at Barnes and Noble and she handed me this book. I almost put it back down but figured why not. I wasn't particularly motivated to read any of the other books I bought so I started in on this one. I was hooked halfway through the first chapter. Ash is dark and so thoroughly broken. I related to him on so many levels. Then Darian came along and he's so easily loveable. So polite and understanding. It almost made me cry the first time I read it. I finished the book in three days. It was such an incredible read. Honestly if you're looking for a good broken romance this the book I would recommend every time. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Drug use

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Homophobia

analenegrace's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

The thing I appreciate most about Alexis Hall is his ability to write completely unlikeable characters but keep you engaged in their story. He is also funny in a way I don't think I fully get because I am American, and god, Alexis Hall is the most British British author to ever British. 

I've read most of his books at this point, and I genuinely don't know if I ever come out of them having loved them, but I also keep wanting to read anything he writes. When I saw this, his earliest book, was getting an expanded rerelease, I figured I'd pick it up; It was so very Alexis Hall in a way I think I've grown to appreciate even though they are very, very wild books to read.

Plot and character-wise, this was sad, hopeful, and kind of lovely. The writing of the Essex accent really had me laughing because it reminded me of reading Harry Styles fanfic in like 2014, I guess, which is when this book was first written...

Lastly, the religious references and comparison were hilarious, and the part where he compared "being a bit mean at a wedding" to Peter denying Jesus Christ had me actually laughing at my desk. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Sexual content, Alcohol, Biphobia, Cursing, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Fatphobia

lost_windsock's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny fast-paced

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

5.0

I absolutely loved Darian. I loved Ash, as well, but Darian was the literal shining star of this book. His ability to be himself, see Ash for who he was, and love him despite how difficult Ash made it, was just a treat. It was clear throughout the book that Darian didn't have the most confidence in himself, but he powered through that to be as glitteringly incandescent as he was anyway. The character growth of both Darian and Ash was so sweet to see, and I even thought I would hate Niall forever at the beginning and I ended up liking him, too.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Suicidal thoughts

loganoxymore's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Medical trauma

Minor: Fatphobia

achay91's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization

jbpalumbo's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

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

4.75

Parts of this book are hard to read, particularly if you have any direct or tangential experience with depression. Nonetheless, it all ends up okay and is a tender love story, which makes the difficult bits thoroughly worthwhile. (The easy, rooted perspective of Darian’s glitter pirate helps too.) The insight into the experience of depression and what it takes to re-establish oneself among the living is particularly important to have depicted in literature and I am glad that Hall has done so here.

As a Hall fan who read Boyfriend Material first, I thoroughly enjoyed the annotations to/extras included in this edition. Though they occupy different worlds, it was fun to see thee bits of Luc and Oliver rooted in Glitterland. Definitely a worthwhile read on multiple levels.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Classism, Alcohol, Biphobia, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Medical trauma

kcbatts's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Self harm

Minor: Biphobia and Forced institutionalization

jazzlioness's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Fatphobia, and Cursing

Minor: Transphobia

There’s a brief bit of banter at one point that feels not particularly trans inclusive. I know the author cares about being trans inclusive so he may have revised that in the new edition but the audiobook is not being updated. Similarly, there’s an incredibly fatphobic conversation that just has no excuse for existing. Even in his newer work he has issues with anti-fat content so I’m not sure that there will be any changes to this part.

meganpbennett's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

1.5

Glitterland was recommended to me by an Alexis Hall fan, so when I saw that it was on NetGalley, I requested it. It... it wasn't what I was expecting, even having read several AJH books before and knowing how he plays with his genres and his readers. It was a lot darker than even the trigger warning at the beginning would have suggested, much darker and much more detailed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Drug use, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship

bonriki's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This was a touching, and at times heartbreaking, depiction of love and mental illness. Ash suffers from type 1 bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. He’s a successful novelist who struggles to find joy or meaning in his everyday life. One day he meets Darian, a flamboyant model, and what begins as a one night stand becomes something more. 

I loved several aspects of this book, particularly the way Ash’s mental illness was portrayed. I myself have diagnosed major depressive disorder and anxiety and found Ash’s struggles highly relatable. He’s not a perfect person, he can be cowardly and cruel, prickly and judgemental. He often engages in self-sabotage and pushes away the people he cares about. Through all of this, you can see a complex picture of a flawed human being and he is masterfully written. 

Darian is also lovely, there’s far more to him than Ash’s initial (low) impression would lead you to believe. He is steadfast and caring, an optimist who values honesty and loyalty. He and Ash shouldn’t work but they really do, opposites attract and Darian brings out the best in Ash. 

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault, Grief, Classism, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Forced institutionalization