Eeeeh, i Disagree. Artemies mother is toxic, yet she turned out nice. Marrow bonebreaker hates magic, yet cole doesnt hate his talent, he just hides it to not dissappoint his father.
Blaming sourrounding is always easy to absolve a person from there faults but we have seen time and time again that people can be different from there surrounding. wether there try to be different or there just give in is there decision. Not saying Caulder cant be redeemed but he has first to admit that he himself is at fault.
Also i wouldn immediatly call all nobles toxic for the way some of them act and in Maeves case i get more the feeling that she is just someone who does what she has to do in order for her house to hold its own. she is just playing the game well, to the dismay of the other noble houses.
Thought that just my theories and humble opinions.