Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Gild by Raven Kennedy

209 reviews

spazzcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

2.5

I'm going to give the second book a chance (only because its on KU) but I cringed throughout most of this book. It was frequently gross and kind of predictable. I just didn't enjoy it much. Wouldn't compare this to Maas books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Toxic relationship

stephanie_w11's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

3.5

This is an intense read. I’m not sure what I expected but this did surprise me. I do really love Auren and am excited to see how her character continues to develop. I also really enjoyed the dual narration of this audiobook version. Still the violence against women in this story is a lot so it’s not going to be for everyone

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Trafficking

emmawickum's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War

aliceloyallaleon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

panamanda's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

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

stuffed_with_books's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Not all that glitters is gold. Nice setup to the series, strong FMC. Nice twist near the end. The book is addicting and hard to put down. Heed the trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexism

cheryl_gager's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.75

I really liked the world, our main character Auren and the writing style. However, this very much felt like a set up book. I think the series is going to be amazing and there is definitely more to come but not much happened in the story in this book and though it was quick to read the story didn't move along at the same pace, if that makes sense. This did have some dark moments and there are definelty trigger warnings for this book and I feel for this series. I am looking forward to the next book as I am not sure where book 2 will take us, and I do see lots of potential for the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, and Gaslighting

The way our main character is treated throughout and the relationship she has with Midas is toxic as she is under his control but thinks that it is love. There is a sexual assault/rape which is violent to one of the characters, witnessed by out main character, that could be triggering. Overall, the woman in this book are used for their bodies and nothing more.

dkgreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

Liked the spin on the King Midas story. Auren’s Stockholm Syndrome is totally showing, but I love her inner commentary and positive attitude. I definitely see her character growing already and look forward to seeing her strength blossom. I already know Midas is a bad guy. . .because he’s blonde. Lol. Diving into Book 2 immediately.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Death of parent

brooketreads's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

1.0

Big content warning for sexual content and SA on page. If I hadn’t purchased this book on audible, I probably would have DNFed. I do see the potential, but my negatives far outnumbered that potential.

All the rest of this is major spoilers. I didn’t like how it started with an *rgy, and Auren is being forced to watch from her cage… but it was very confusing how she felt about it. Seemed like she didn’t like it, then it seemed like she did, but then it seemed like she didn’t because she wished to participate… confusing. But, somehow we are supposed to believe that King Midas loves the MC Auren… no. The whole concept of the “saddles” …barf. Then, oh Midas has a wife an hour and a half in that we haven’t heard about till this point. So not only is he massively sleeping around in front of the person that loves him and that he supposedly loves, but he also has a wife that is completely fine with him stepping out and even “purchased” him some of his “saddles” …again barf. And then left and right Auren is about to be r*ped by some gross man… why. Then, Auren watched another woman get r*ped when she could have stopped it the whole time and only stops it when that man is about to come for her… like wtf?!

If I continue the series, which right now doesn't seem promising, it will only be for Rip.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

morganhortonn's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness and Kidnapping

Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual content