Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

5 reviews

syntax_of_angels's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I don't like the romance genre and I really liked this book. I read it for my disability literature class in college and I really enjoyed it. I'm getting the sequel, that's for sure.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Ableism and Alcohol

Most content warnings come from scenes with Lilith (which are not too many) and scenes primarily at the end

where Rhen murders a lot of soldiers on the opposing side

cdoubet's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

sirkeili's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

This book is a good retelling of Beauty and the Beast, especially with the monster being something brief and yet uncontrollable for the male lead. I have not seen the retellings depicted this way, and it was heartbreaking to watch him slowly lose hope after knowing what comes next.

I found Harper to be both intriguing, but also sometimes frustrating when she takes things too literally.  She grows a lot during book, but I still found most of her troubles could be solved by trusting Rhen and Grey a lot more than she initially did (even when they proved they meant no ill will).

I think Grey was my favourite, as he seemed the most well rounded and intruguing character.  His abilities, attitude and mysterious past seem to all line up in a way that I wanted to follow along with him and see his side of the story.  He has so much to tell, and yet so much to unravel about himself as well.  Despite the rough and scatter hand of cards he's been given, Grey still shows an innate softness and care for those he holds close. 

Harper has all the aspects of a great heroine, but I feel the author hinges everything on her disability, and yet its rarely addressed in the novel.  It's almost as though it's just for the ✨ d r a m a ✨ and the "I'm not like other girls" trope (ugh), and not to really showcase how exceptional Harper is despite - and because- of it. I think if there was substance and heart going into developing her character more, Harper could really shine as bright as I know she can.  She has a spark big enough to even set Emberfall ablaze, truly.

If you need a softer, yet still slightly gritty retelling, this is a solid one. Very spunky, goofy and generally easy-going-ish book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Stalking

Minor: Child death, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism

readwithde's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

This may be my favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling. 

First, I love having any character, but especially a MC with a chronic disease or disability. It was handled so well in the narrative; it never felt like a plot point or focus, but simply part of Harper. 

Second, I really liked the way the romance between Rhen and Harper played out. The friendship and trust is built first, then the romance begins to bloom. I liked that there was initial attraction, but it was a true slow burn. Normally I'm impatient about that, but it felt so organic and well-developed. 

I'm less of a fan of the

love triangle with Grey. At first, it felt like he was a brother figure to both, especially when Harper compared him to Jake a few times. Honestly, I would ship him with Rhen over Harper.

I do like how Grey's narrative turned out, for the most part.

Being a "halfling" human and magic user, and perhaps heir to the throne, was a big revelation, and I'm glad we saw him struggling with that in the epilogue.

I was most excited about how the kingdom and the people reacted to Rhen and his decision to start doing something for them. It helped build up the story to be worth a trilogy instead of a single book.

Even though it's off-brand for me, I like the semi-vague ending

of whether or not Harper loves Rhen, whether she broke the curse or if Grey did.

While there's still a clean ending, a resolution, it gives room for more play in the series without stirring up extra (i.e. unnecessary) drama.

Overall, I really liked it, and I'm excited to read more in the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Grief