Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Anathema by Keri Lake

11 reviews

chrysanthemum17's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.5

Safe to say this book was not for me. I just didn’t get it. It was like fluff fluff fluff fluff, oooh here’s some really important information to the story fluff fluff and woah some more world building and then back to fluff. This book did not have to be as long as it was. And can they stop gnashing their teeth and snarling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, and Pregnancy

kheabutter's review against another edition

Couldn’t get into it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Incest, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail

doahdancer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

There was so much here to love, but not enough to say this will be in my top ten at the end of the year.

The MMC was a broody, traumatized burnt marshmallow of a man. The gothic atmosphere reminded me of One Dark Window, but with more abject horror. It was easy for me to get lost in the environment and adore the characters.

Still, the first half was paced too slowly and the second half rocketed the slow burn romance to levels I didn't feel had been earned. There were some interesting plot twists which cast doubt on the motivations of seemingly reliable characters, but they were delivered so abruptly and without fanfare that I was left more confused than surprised.

This would be 5 stars if the romance developed more slowly and the plot, which completely turned itself inside out and became sort of shapeless in its twisting, regained clarity and drive before the end.

Will keep the next on my TBR.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent

brd_emi's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Toxic friendship

cayleejanke's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I felt like getting into the book took forever, like I really wasn’t hooked until like 300 pages in. That’s generally the size of some other books I read, so having to get past so much to get into it was a challenge for me. I do really appreciate the world building, and I think that book two will just unravel everything. I was a bit overwhelmed by it though - I thought maybe it could’ve been simplified just a smidge. BUT that detailed writing came in HOT with them spicy scenes 😏🥵 I mean, the sloooooow burn was antagonizing the entire time, but I do like some good metaphorical foreplay. I loved the element of horror and gothic references throughout, definitely my kind of vibe. It made all of the world building and traumatic backstories blend in very well with the overall storyline. What I want to see more of in book two is Raivox! We love a little companion pet. I still have many questions about this story that I hope are answered in book 2, and yes, I will be reading that one as well! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Classism

chele96's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I am dying to read the sequel. I love the author's writing style and will absolutely be looking into any other books she's written. Keri, please write quickly 🥹

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Colonisation

srodz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

michelle_jancse's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Misogyny

Moderate: Rape

kerry_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kimberlyyyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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

Hear me out, hear me out, HEAR ME OUT! 

Ok, if you’ve seen my review for Nightshade, you are WELL aware of how much I didn’t enjoy the writing in that. So going into Anathema, I had no expectations. 

But to my surprise, I had a damn good time reading this! 

Anathema was everything and more. 

The characters, found family, slow burn, mystery & fantasy components all complement each other in this book. 

The first few chapters feel a little slow but its pacing increases past the 20% mark! 

One thing I will say is that the world building is hard to navigate. Given how it’s built, it’s hard to keep track of the languages and other beings but despite that I had somewhat of an awareness of how the magic system works. 

Maevyth as a main character in the beginning left me feeling bummed. I wasn’t a particular fan of hers, in fact, I preferred her sister Alyesia, who is loud, courageous and loves her sister with a PASSION(kindle notes will prove my point). 

But Maevyth won me over! I think her character is so interesting as more of her background and origin get revealed so I truly am excited to return back to her character. 

(Also fuck their perv uncle, I literally wanted to beat the crap out of him) 

Now Zevander is incredibly complex, and I think this is truly done well. From the get go, you understand that he is a character driven by passion and protective instincts. This remains to be the same when Maevyth comes into the picture but his internal battle becomes more intense as he realizes the impact she has had on him. 

I feel for the little boy that Zevander used to be and I truly hope he heals because I am completely on his side  👏. I cannot wait to see more of his character arc. 

I could ramble about the side character such as Zevander and Maevyth’s sisters but I would be here for much longer. 

If you’re looking for a complex goth fantasy with a slow SLOW burn, I would definitely turn u to this book! 

I must warn you my friends, this book does end on quite the cliffhanger! 🫣 

(But it definitely guaranteed my chances of reading book 2)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Addiction and Pregnancy