Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Gild by Raven Kennedy

3 reviews

simpledifficulties's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

dealfea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

This is the second time I am reading the Plated Prisoner series (in time for the release of Goldfinch later this year 🫣🫣🫣) and I still really love the start to Auren's story. Knowing how things will progress made some parts even more heartbreaking

I am still crying over Sail's death and Rissa being raped 😞

I absolutely love how Auren is already starting to grow by the end of Gild and I am so glad to follow her along once again 💛

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

scrummyb's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

In my typical fashion, I'm writing this review after reading books 1-4 of the series cause I didn't feel like pausing in between to review each individually. So this review encompasses all 4 books. First off, trigger warnings galore: rape, abuse, violence, child grooming, child abuse, misogyny, it goes on and on. A friend warned me ahead of time, so I hesitated to read it, but I'm glad I finally did. It's definitely a series that builds and gets better as it goes. Reminded me of ACOTAR that I wasn't into the first book that much, but then the real winners come after the first. After the first, I devoured it, though I did lose steam in #4, but I'm chalking that up to my own ADHD. While I never really grew to like the main character, I thought the author does a good job of showing how deeply trauma can affect a person and how hard it is to undo that conditioning from trauma. The other characters are delightful though & deliver the witty banter I love. And the villains!!! Ooooo she can write a villain! I was seeing red at some parts. The spicy scenes are also a fun kind of spicy that stands out from the typical tropes you read. Another thing the author does an excellent job at is the slow reveal. She frequently drops a nugget in one book and later you're like, "wait, will we ever find out ______??" and then a book or two later she reveals. I'm a big fan. By the end of book 4, there are multiple viewpoints happening in the book. I haven't decided yet if I like the multi-POV, but it does add a new dynamic. More political intrigue which I'm always a fan of. My biggest hang up is there were some fairly big plot holes that had me scratching my head. I chose to just suspend belief, cause it's a book and I'm here to be entertained, but it did detract from the escapism. Overall, I'd give the series 4 stars so far. I'll be back for book 5, for sure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment