Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson

14 reviews

daffodilcherry's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

5.0

Impeccable novella that is quite literally a cottage core lesbian horror. There is an unmistakable tension throughout the entire book, masked by gorgeous writing. It perfectly captures obsessive love, how easy it is to wave away red flags (but girl there were some red flags) and the romantisation of cottagecore/how real life rural living is a bit different. Also a master class in how to gorgeously describe things without purple prose. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, but it fitted the story.

Wheelhouses: obsessive lesbian love, beautiful descriptions of food/gardens, "something is messed up here and the main character can't see it.", horny lesbians.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Blood, Murder, Gore, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse

Additional/specific trigger warnings:

amputation, unknowing cannibalism

orimega's review against another edition

• 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

2.75

The build-up on the obsession factor in the beginning made this type of story seem interesting to me at first. I was hoping it would be different. I was kinda expecting to be surprised. But it went in a predicable direction that fell flat for me at the end. 

I also just dont like the idea of a woman being fooled and blinded by craft cupcakes and comfort food.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Physical abuse

Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse

cannibalism, dismemberment

jeninthebooks08's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I'd recommend checking the content warnings before reading.
I've read better, I've read worse. Some parts were intriguing, others more so predictable.
I land on a rather neutral rating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Torture, and Body horror

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Cannibalism

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

kristenmiller's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

For the love of God, check the content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Murder, Torture, Body horror, Sexual violence, and Emotional abuse

noeldiem's review

dark tense slow-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? N/A

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Self harm, Murder, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Torture, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

theatrealpaca's review

challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Torture, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Animal death, Alcohol, Murder, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Violence, Sexual harassment, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexual content, Child abuse, and Death of parent

tarak20's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Gore, Torture, Emotional abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

queerfucker's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

He's missing both legs at the thigh. The stumps are wrapped in snowy white gauze. 
He's got duct tape over his mouth and is wearing an adult diaper, and Ro can smell the stale urine from across the room. 
An IV runs into his arm, which is held down by multiple straps at shoulder, elbow, and wrist. He looks unwell, his eyes sunken and his skin pale. Seeing her, he thrashes and makes whimpering noises.

Omygod??? OMYGOD???? One of the few criticisms I have of this book is it has an issue of telling, not showing. My other is the fact that while I understand a sapphic woman coming into her own and breaking down her binary ideas would have gender on her mind, it felt very “women do this and men do this” and like every little thing connected back to gender which was off-putting as someone outside that binary. but the calling out of how differently we view the same behaviors in men and women was cool and i find is rarely explored. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Cannibalism

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Medical content

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual violence

mfrisk's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was stunning and everything you could want from queer horror.

You’re taken from romance, over the top sweetness, and saccharine words (many of which I had to look up) to sheer dread and fear. I so look forward to reading more from this author and seeing how they peel back the layers in another story.

This book to me
had parallels to Misery, Midsommar, Hannibal and was an excellent addition to the cottagegore genre. For those who’ve read This is where we talk things out this is also a great queer horror read-alike which touches on similar themes. Also a good reminder to have people in your life who’d sound the alarm if you uproot your life. Ro you grew on me throughout this story and I’m rooting for you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Animal death, and Cannibalism

Minor: Alcohol

afaerytale's review

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

4.0

A great cottagecore horror short with a guessable but enjoyable twist near the end however the very end twist surprised me. A really good read, you could almost taste the cupcakes and smell the scented soaps!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Gore, Vomit, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship