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akswhy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Suicide attempt
kayanoelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was gagged for the last 50 pages, what the hell did I just read???
Also, Audric is the incarnation of ‘work song’ by Hozier.
“No grave can hold my body down,
I’ll crawl home to her.”
That’s literally Audric.
There were so many plot twists, I could barely keep up. I’m still a little confused with the one right at the end.
This is one of the darkest books I’ve ever read, it’s crazy to see how Corien corrupts Rielle and makes her doubt everything. He always tells her exactly what she needs to hear to gain her trust and it’s working and the f#cked up thing is I UNDERSTAND WHY IT’S WORKING. Her situation is impossible to handle, she’s annoying and selfish sometimes but I do understand how difficult it is. Claire Legrand did a wonderful job of portraying the constant conflict in her mind.
What I find really impressive is when an author manages to convey feelings and boy did she succeed in that. The relationship between Eliana and Simon made me ache, I didn’t know what to do with my despair lmfao. Corien made me want to throw the book, Audric made me ehdbwjskbwwi because he’s just too good for the world. I was shocked, I cried, I laughed.
I’m very very excited for book 3!
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Cursing and Pregnancy
csmall73's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Classism
angstifies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
one thing i don’t like about this series in general is how abusers get forgiven? this is the third time that happens, it really fucking bothers me.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Vomit, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
junebugreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicide attempt
leeang'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
3.75
I still am invested in the characters, and the writing remains beautiful. Rielle's decent into madness is so well done and took me on a journey. The way that Rielle and Eliana mirror each other in the writing is exquisitely done.
And the last 50 or so pages felt like the action packed first book, with at least one twist I did not expect!
But all of it felt simultaneously like too much and too little.
I found the sex scenes gratuitous and awkward. The Audric one in the hall ... yikes. And the LGBTQ+ representation to be SO NICE TO SEE, but also felt ... lack luster.
It just felt like I was on the upward ramp of the rollercoaster where all you can do is look around at the scenery because nothing else is really happening yet. You feel the good part coming, but all this really served was to make me increasingly nervous.
I look forward to see how this story concludes. That will honestly depend on if I recommend this series or not to others.
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and War
stormywolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I think Kingsbane was well written, though maybe a little slow in places, and a great character study in how love, and grief and fear can shape people. Both story and characters are detailed and complex, and every chapter knows just how to end to where you want to get back to their story as quick as possible. Of course, you end up feeling that way for both storylines, so you're stuck reading the book as written. If you were intrigued by the first book, you'll definitely want to continue their stories, but I might recommend waiting until the next book is out so you're not left in so much despair for so long...
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Gun violence
A good bit of the murder/death is either fantasy (a character snapping a character into ashes or summoning fire at them) or done during battle/war.