Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

A Game of Retribution by Scarlett St. Clair

9 reviews

alicia_joy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

I have a hard time not finishing series that I start, but I am on the struggle bus with this one. I don't get why there are two separate series that are supposed to be read together, and have portions of duplicate content. Like it's really weird to be reading parts of the same book twice. And also, we get it. They are just insatiably horny all the time, and Hades is just broody, and Persephone is immature and unaware from being sheltered her whole life...it's just kind of getting old. Honestly, Hermes is saving the series for me at this point. He is by far my favorite character. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Cursing, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Blood, and Alcohol

Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Violence, and Torture

Minor: Kidnapping

grace33's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Death, and Stalking

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Murder, and Alcohol

bangiebangs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.0

Re-read this because the next book of the series is out and I wanted to refresh my memory - this was the first book I finished this year, and I liked it on my second pass as well. I slightly prefer the story from Hades' POV, though am looking forward to the next one in the timeline, which will be Persephone's POV again. 

Things I dislike: 

• Noted this in another review, but the sex scenes are a bit template-y feeling after a while. It's not hugely imaginative, and the language can be a turn off for me. They are spicy though, just not as appealing to my brain as other authors can be. 
• I also just violently hate the miscommunication trope. So, so many problems, dangers, and fights could be avoided by talking, and I'm just having a hard time with believing that any eons-old god (whether they are experienced in romantic relationships or not) is struggling SO MUCH to express their thoughts... just plain annoying

Things I like: 

• Hermes! Somehow we love the trickster in all their incarnations (I don't think I've come across an unlikable Hermes yet?). Definitely bringing the sass. 
• In this book in particular, I really like that there are real-world (and impactful) consequences to MC's actions. As sad as the story gets, I'm glad that there isn't some loophole or some magical cure-all that pops up and fixes it. I feel that this gives the story more depth. 

So yeah, I'm excited to read on now! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, Grief, Death, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Kidnapping, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual harassment

rhionline's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicide and Sexual assault

kimmy0__0's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

I like Hades' side better than Persephone's in A Touch of Ruin. They seem darker and touch on deeper more interesting storylines

like the impending war with the Gods

. Hades' perspective also seems more explicit. I want to listen to the next books concurrently. I love Hermes and Hectate moments. ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Cursing, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness

Minor: Domestic abuse, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Rape, Suicide, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Torture, Car accident, and Misogyny

readwithde's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Sexual content, Cursing, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Stalking, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Gaslighting

Minor: Blood, Suicide, Kidnapping, War, and Infidelity

malenhar's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.0

In my opinion Scarlett St. Clair writes the best Greek Mythology re-telling's. I am so impressed by the amount of research that goes into these smutty little fantasy novels. 

I loved this book but I had a hard time getting into it because of the time between releases/reads and also the heavy topics addressed. I think the authors writing has improved a lot though. I really enjoy the Hades POV because it adds so many extra layers and understanding to Persophones POV. 

My biggest complaint is the order in which these books are released and the time between. I think the final book of the series with dual POV will be released before the third Hades standalone which kind of ruins it a bit for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide

brichneyfloss's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Sexual content and Cursing

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Sexual assault

Minor: Kidnapping

hannibanani29's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Murder, Blood, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Cursing, Torture, Kidnapping, War, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Car accident, and Alcohol

Minor: Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Alcoholism