Reviews tagging 'Torture'

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

83 reviews

nat20charisma's review against another edition

3.25

It was just.. ok. Not so bad that I had to DNF it, but not great either. 

I really don’t enjoy the trope of “sexually experienced man shows a virgin the ropes”. I also felt like there were times that Poppy didn’t want it and clearly said so, but he pushed forward anyway because he “knew she would like it” and would “thank him later”. 

It was also a HUGE red flag that he

Spoiler

took her virginity before he revealed who he was. Pretty sure that’s rape, and that is traumatic. But I know she will still fall in love with him because he is in the other books as a hero.

All that aside, I found the major plot twist a little too predictable (I knew a quarter of the way thru), and I found some of the plot needed to be trimmed because it didn’t make sense or it didn’t add to the story. 

Not my cup of tea, but the writing could have been worse. At least it was still readable, even if it wasn’t gripping. 

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Torture

strange_and_unusual's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

I found it to be really predicable? I enjoyed it enough to finish it but the plot twist was kind of obvious, Poppy kind of annoyed me at times, same with Hawke. It has its good moments though. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Gore, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Death

Minor: Death of parent

cait's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Gore, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Ableism, Sexual assault, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Torture, War, Child abuse, Child death, and Slavery

katbsc's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual violence, Gore, and Religious bigotry

bookishglitter's review

medium-paced

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

2.0

Take a shot every time she says "I'm the maiden" "The chosen one."  You'd be in a coma and then die in two days time. What does being a maiden even mean!? This isn't explained at all. Does it have anything to do with

Spoiler

the gift?

Also, the Dark One? What a boring name. The dark lord did it better. There were also constant dots... in sentences... that don't even... need it. 🙄

Spoiler

I liked that everything that happens in Masadonia is a lie but all of that is overshadowed by everyone calling her the freaking maiden. *angry Pikachu face*

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Gore, Violence, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Blood

wiley_coyote5's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Torture, Toxic friendship, War, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol and Self harm

The relationship in this book is the classic possessive, 'touch her and you die' that is sexy in books and terrible IRL. The main character is abused physically and emotionally

signebrum's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

Now this was dark fantasy

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Gore, and Death

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Child death, and Violence

Minor: Torture

z0z's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring tense fast-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

11/10 recommend!!!!! Pls read the book. I have no complaints. Realistic response to things unlike other books. 

Spoiler

Altho kinda saw the plot twist coming

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse

Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, and Torture

dancingdragon's review against another edition

emotional mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

3.75

I was looking for a more mature fantasy series. This leaned more young adult than had been explained to me in the book store, so some of the writing was a bit less challenging than I’d have hoped for. However, the fast pace, plot twists, and sexy interactions I wasn’t expecting seemed to pull me in, despite wanting not to like it early on. A third of the way into the novel it picked up and I couldn’t put it down. It was seductive and full of symbolism. The mystery of the plot and cliffhanger end left me anxious to read on in the series…plus it’s hot! Perfect for a summer reader. I’ll read the next one. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, and War

katharine2k's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I always love a good social upending plot twist. I do think that I would have enjoyed this book more with less spice. Otherwise, I really loved the characters and the world that was built

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Death, Gore, and Murder

Minor: Torture