Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten

7 reviews

kbowles24's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Deportation

book_gremlin42's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Alcohol

mandersdraws's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.5

Ugh I need to read it again!! I feel like Hemlock Queen gets off to a sluggish (and maybe a little depressing) start, with the protagonist taking a passive role for a few chapters, but the action and tension really ramped up quickly. It wove a bunch of loose threads together from the first book into an intricate and rich tapestry, and it gave me even more ancient mysteries to think on while I wait for the next one!

I really love how the protagonist’s powers and relationship to the religion of the world allows us to peek into the ancient past. I love how it explores the fallibility of people, and of divine figures. I love that it calls into question the motives of the people writing our laws, our bibles.

And oh, I really fucking love the tragic romance. (I especially love the very real possibility of a “completed” love triangle here, my new One True Threesome). I love how tender some of the spicy scenes are. This shit is right up my alley!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Mental illness tag because while it’s related to the fantasy elements of the book, the protagonist hears voices. That and possession are big topics of the book. Also warning for dissociation.

chaptermaggot's review

emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Torture, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Classism

soniajoy98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug use, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

chelseanaylor's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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 just wrote a long review and Goodreads didn't save it...long and short: 

Gabe is deeply unlikable and I can't buy into the poly love Whitten is trying so hard to make. I guess others are feeling it but Gabe x Lore feels forced; he's so judgmental and rigid and Lore deserves gentleness, fun, and kindness. Gabe x Bastian....i don't even see...Whitten has only described how much they dislike and distrust one another but then says they love each other. For me, the plot that would bring the three of them together has felt like she's telling and not showing the reader. Now-- Lore x Bastian is amazing. They balance each other and provide things for the other they want/need. 

Regardless, the emphasis constantly being placed on Lore's dilemma of loving them both makes the stakes of the plot hard to buy into. I can't focus on anything else when the plot is constantly cutting to Lore's monologue about loving them both. I also think her own development and personhood is hindered by Bastian and Gabe-- the talk down or around her, make decisions for her, exclude her, and have also made her an object in the "fight" between them. 

I don't know if I'll read book 3, especially if there are Gabe chapters. 

In terms of writing, Whitten uses too many repeating phrases/descriptors. I don't think there's a single instance when Gabe is mentioned that his one eye isn't described. Val's sea glass beads. Lore twists her ring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Murder, and Alcohol

readwithria's review

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

HOLY SHIT

The Foxglove King was one of my favorite books of 2023, and now The Hemlock Queen is one of my favorite books of 2024. This was my most anticipated book of the year, and it didn’t disappoint ONE BIT!

As usual, Hannah Whitten’s prose was absolutely beautiful. I highlighted so many quotes, and was on the edge of my seat the entire book. The writing and the world are so lush, I cannot get enough of them.

And let’s not forget the CHARACTERS! I love Lore and Bastian and Gabe, and I also love all the side characters and how complex they are. They really add a sense of depth to the world, and  are a reminder that other things are still happening even when we aren’t paying attention to them at the moment.

I absolutely cannot WAIT to read the last book of the series. It’s incredible, and everyone should read these books. 5 stars.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy and providing me the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Religious bigotry and Alcohol