Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Gild by Raven Kennedy

29 reviews

savannahrosema's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Blood, and Grief

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

beckyremillard's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.0

Quick read. Really wasn’t sure about the gilded woman with prehensile ribbons coming out of her back but definitely an intriguing story and I will continue. 

Check trigger warnings for sure; it’s very dark. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal death

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

booknerdcoco's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.0

OK so this book was really slow, and not much happened until towards the end. However, I have heard that the series overall is good and the second book is better. It is typical for the first book of a series to be predominantly concerned with scene setting so I won't write it off just yet.

The book has lots of swearing in, and some of the scenes aren't for the lighthearted.

There are strong themes of oppression against women, however, I have a feeling that this series will predominantly contain kick ass feminine energy so watch this space.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sarahinvi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ivorygriffin's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• 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

3.5

Hated the beginning of the book, it crossed the line of the type of romance between characters I enjoy, and the type I'm uncomfortable with. Strong themes of emotional violence and manipulation, but it gave me the impression that maybe it was one of those books where the guy is putting up a front and he actually develops to being a decent love interest. It gets really good soon as the main plot of the book kicks off, maybe it's because the guy is absent for most of the book, and it's like the main character is discovering herself and going on her own adventure which feels separate from him entirely. Honestly would have preferred it if the book started here. The end of the book I enjoyed and was sooo interesting. BUT it was kinda ruined by the rape that occured. The very end of the book I loved and made me excited for the next one, just worried that some of those bits that were unpleasant will carry into the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Grief

secondhandbookshelves's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

my favorite character (and the best character imo) dies.
Snow pirates are bastards and if the other two side characters with personalities end up dying too I shall revolt. 
The ribbons are cool and Midas seems an impulsive, ruthless dick.

(pretty sure this is vague enough to not actually spoil anything but hey)

Double cliffhanger ending
Pretty dark
Still gunna read book two though

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Trafficking, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

jenminicricket's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I definitely plan to continue this series. I am intrigued by the premise and hopefully that the future books in the series will be fit my reading style a bit better. Of course the genre that it is, there are plenty of red flags a waving everywhere, but we seemed to creep through the plot. It is definitely a character focused book, but I would have loved a few more answers and something a but stronger to pull me through the slower cadence of the novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

onism_catharsis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, and Grief