Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon

23 reviews

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

5.0

NOOOOOO NOT THE SAPPHICS

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Violence, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

aheinicke27's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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

3.5

Parts of this book I really liked — the interactions with death, the lore and world building, and the concept that the main character has to sacrifice parts of herself to raise the dead. Other parts however…were so hard to read! For example, the relationship between the main character and her love interest (whose names I have NO IDEA how to spell since I listened to the audiobook) was SO TOXIC. As I read, I kept wondering what the main character even saw in the princess…like she is obviously taking advantage of you and sort of acts like she feels bad sometimes? Their interest in each other felt purely due to the fact that their souls were connected and nothing more…which made for weak conflicts that I had a hard time really caring about. Not sure yet if I want to read the next book…we’ll see. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

coffeeandprose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit

courtneylys's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Torture and Grief

nightstitch96's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Body horror and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and War

thecaffeinatedlibrary's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense

5.0

This book is the perfect reminder not to judge a book by its cover because I would not have assumed that this book was what it was based on it.

The Gilded Crown is a masterful, intricate political fantasy that stuns with visual prose and complex characters. When I say complex, I mean Complex. Gordon examines the very nature of humanity, of morality, here in this novel. Using themes of corrupting power, sibling bonds, generational trauma, religious power/corruption, and more, Gordon thrusts the reader into a heartfelt and poignant world that beats with life.

I don't want to disclose too much on characters for fear of spoiling anything, but the dynamics in this story are deeply moving and weaved with intrigue. Take Death (?) for example, a self-serving and morally ambiguous character that adds so much depth and understanding to the story on a larger scale. Sullivain who feels trapped under the weight of wars past and familial trauma, and whose morals lean dark. Hellevir herself and the twisted complexity of martyrdom and how much love can hurt us. The Gilded Crown is rich with interesting characters.

Beautiful, lovely, and tragic. I loved every word.

(Side note: fans of the Agathario dynamic will enjoy Hellevir + Sullivain.)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

emzvoice's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful slow-paced

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

3.75

An easy and enjoyable read. A protagonist torn between who she wants to be and who she’s forced to be. Solving riddles and confronting death, while coming to terms with the reality of life.

Very coming of age, for the protagonist and the princess. Both trying to figure out how to operate within their own confines and often making the wrong choices - but they learn and grow, or at least start to given this is only book one of two. 

Fun read, sapphic and immersive.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: War

ofclumsywords's review against another edition

dark sad 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

This book is not at all what I was expecting. The plot was what drew me to this book but after the first few chapters it fell flat. The characters were terrible and shallow, with barely any backstory to them. The romance was nonexistent with no chemistry between the supposed couple. Not to mention the world building, which had no history to the land or any other magic users besides the main character who could bring back the dead. This book was a complete disappointment and I am not even considering reading the second book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

jjvaldezbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

it was compelling enough that I finished in two sittings. that is incredibly rare.

CHECK TRIGGERS

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Vomit, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

ellenisntcool's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

This was such a good from beginning to end. I’m excited to read the second as this was the perfect build up for more, I wish I could just spew out absolutely everything but I will urge those who like more political fantasies with a sprinkling of romance and death magic to read this book, as it’s AMAZING! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Death

Moderate: Child death and Physical abuse