lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
"The Awakening" follows twin sisters: Tory and Darcy. Tory and Darcy have been in the foster care system since they were orphaned as babies. Now, 18, and kicked out of the system, they are just trying to make enough money to cover rent. But all of those worries seem inconsequential when they find out they are actually the daughters of the Savage King, and they are the rightful descendants of the fae crown. Now they must go through Zodiac Academy to learn about their true home and fight for their birthright.
This book was very fine. There is a lot of violence, nonconsensual acts, and ALOT of bullying, which I had a pretty good idea about before I started reading this. I found the hazing that the other students put Tory and Darcy through to be really off-putting, and the fact that none of the teachers did anything to remotely stop it was disheartening.
This book is definitely HEAVILY influenced by other popular stories, which is fine, but it made the book feel unoriginal.
I do not know if I will continue in this series, but I can now appreciate why everyone seems so enamored with this series.
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Death, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
karly_ackley's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Blood, and Death of parent
omega's review against another edition
Found the bullying and whole “toxic situation to be dealt with” a bit too much and just tiring for being kinda exaggerated and never actually dealt with, losing any enjoyment of the characters getting over it.
And mostly got truly fed up of them calling the 4 main boys hot and pretty while they where ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC PEOPLE that don’t deserve ANY positive attention, so I didn’t understand the need for so much unnecessary and inappropriate constant comments about how hot the pieces of shit were.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Racism, Bullying, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
ifoundcallie's review against another edition
- 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? No
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Car accident, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Torture, Stalking, Incest, and Vomit
kaireadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
cricci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Fairly predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable for the sheer relaxing nature of the novel. Even though the typographical errors (an entire paragraph was duplicated and > replaced apostrophes on a few instances — perhaps due to self-publishing?) and rushed plot detracted from the novel, I couldn’t stop reading, which is why I gave the book a second star.
Since there is some promise, hopefully the future books in the series show the authors taking more time with their craft rather than rushing to get the word count.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Torture, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cursing
lemonysnicket's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
- It's certainly dark but too dark for my taste.
- Most of the actions are bordering on r*pe if not full on r*pe
- Felt defeating as hell to read. Since this is a first person pov, by the time I was halfway through the book my self confidence was nonexistent. The first book seems to be all about the girls getting their ass handed to them.
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Not for the fainthearted.hannahs_library__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Violence, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Fire/Fire injury
lifeonasofa's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Blood, Car accident, Cursing, Gore, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Death, Abandonment, and Alcohol
magicalmegija's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Murder, Misogyny, Bullying, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Death of parent