Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Gild by Raven Kennedy

132 reviews

deyknight's review against another edition

challenging dark funny sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Very well written, but I struggled to understand what the intended overall plot was through most of the book. It felt very much like this book was a pilot episode, laying the ground work, backstory, and world building... But we only really discovered the plot/conflict at the very end of the book. 

Also: definitely pay attention to the trigger warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Torture

liv_182's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

thelibraryofjen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Gild - Raven Kennedy 

BOOK ONE of The Plated Prisoner Series 

Synopsis ~~

I picked this book right when I bought it because I was just so excited. This story is a King Midas retelling, with a much darker twist. We follow our main character Auren who has been caged up in the castle for over 10+ years. She is King Midas favored and we know why he is her favorite because she is completely gold. 

Now for the things I didn’t like about this story is how late we meet the love interest. I was told this was a spicy romantasy and I just didn’t get that vibe at all. So if you go in expecting spicy scenes you will be disappointed. This story read more as a prequel book than has the first in a series. Be warned that there is a lot of grape scenes and the FMC has Stockholm syndrome so the choices and things she says can be a little weird for us, but for her that is all she knows. 

The things i enjoyed is the pacing of this book it was really good to follow along too. This book I would say is more character driven than plot, but the plot that is in their is good there’s just way more character development. I really enjoyed the ending and how it left us on a cliff hanger. I also really enjoyed how Auren’s character transformed, she isn’t a scared girl anymore. She has so much potential and I really hope the author does her character justice in the later books. I also enjoyed her relationship with her royal guard that was a cute daughter/father relationship. It was so sad when Sail died, I rarely cry to books but that made me tear up a bit. The author’s writing was really captivating and made me keep reading. People have complained that this story doesn’t feel like an adult fantasy but for me it really did. 

If you love:

⚜️ Fae

⚜️ Mythical Creatures 

⚜️ King Midas Retelling 

⚜️ Abused FMC 

⚜️ Fantasy 

⚜️ Magical Powers 

⚜️ Character development for FMC

⚜️ War

⚜️ Character/Plot driven story 

Genre/Type: Adult Fantasy, Romance (very little) 

Format: Physical Book (462 pages)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️ (4.5)

Spice: NONE (THERE IS GRAPE 🍇) 

Series or Standalone: First in a Series 

CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️⚠️‼️‼️‼️ 

TikTok: @j3nslibrary_
Amazon: Jenesis 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

#AbusedFMC #MagicalCreatures #Characterdevelopment #MagicalPowers #Retelling

tatyadevotchka's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

peyberry's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

Tbh this book made me feel sick to my stomach multiple times. Kennedy’s warning at the beginning of the book that this is adult content really was an understatement. This book is graphic, disturbing, and sad. If I didn’t know from other people that the rest of the series was good, I probably wouldn’t keep reading. There’s very few moments in the book that I actually enjoyed. The single redeeming quality of this book is that it wasn’t boring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

mostlyharmless42's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

jennipea382's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Blood, Alcohol, and Classism

maribeth_brinkley's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

maazi0328's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I wasn’t a fan of the writing. The plot was interesting but I feel it wasn’t executed correctly. It felt rushed and left me with tons of questions. The main character, Auren, wasn’t likable for me. I get she’s a victim and is dealing with Stockholm Syndrome, but I found her aggravating and extremely delusional. She seemed unscathed from  her traumatic past which I found unrealistic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

maja__'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment