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perseusj4ckson's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Blood, and Kidnapping
dwhiting's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, and War
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder
karapillar's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
xapoptosisx's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: War
dodiejoyle's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
rayannotates's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
huntress's review against another edition
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
emeliah21's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Incest, Misogyny, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Physical abuse
emilywemily6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
amy_reading_23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
The characters are interesting. You are shown some of their complexities but also not enough of each to know them entirely. There are beautiful lines that are like poetry and some interesting comparisons to religion. I thought I'd be put off by how it is written in letters, but it is very immersive and most the letters are written long enough to be like scenes.
I do love how she took his power away by not naming him (the abuser). Although this has been described as a retelling of Dracula and his wives, its not quite that, and we never quite know who he is. And that takes the power away from him.
I could probably go on for ages talking about this book but I will say, I would have found this difficult to read a few years ago. It is hard hitting, uncomfortable at times, and there's some blurred lines between relationships being familial and sexual, which did make me a bit uncomfortable. So don't read this if you're not in the right head space. But if you are, and you want to read a book about a girl finding her own power while being bound by a narcissist, with a long dark period and a finally happy ish ending, then go for it.
Everything the "Lord" does is characteristic of a narcissistic sociopath in a toxic relationship. He gaslights his wives, tells them they're paranoid, masks his control by making them think they have freedom, taking them away from friends or loved ones, isolating them, allows them scarce joy to keep devoted but derives them of most joy so they depend on him. If you recognise someone in your life who is like this, it is best to seek help and leave.
Last point, I wasn't sure about the ending. At Constantines last chapter I'd thought I wished there was more of their lives now, but then I actually found that I didn't totally like Alexi's bit. His possessiveness and dependency on them worried me a bit and I wondered if the ending was meant to be semi uncomfortable. But I might be overthinking, as otherwise I think it interestingly showed how a loving poly relationship can be without a toxic partner.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest