Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Wicked King by Holly Black

14 reviews

egurgens's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.75

To be honest, I don’t like this book as much as I did the first one. Although Jude is just as much of a badass as she was in the first one, there is a lot more at play in this book, and she doesn’t get to show it off as much as in the first book.  This book was also a little slower than the first one, although the ending was still super dramatic. The first book seemed to maybe be driven equally by both plot and character development, but this one seems to favor plot over character. Let’s just say, I’m pissed at the ending, and I’m mad at a great many characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexism, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

a_libra_library's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Blood, and Grief

charhollyx's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-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? No

4.0

WOW WOW WOW
I really underestimated this series after the slow start of the first book, but this sequel really pulls it out of the bag.
I absolutely could not put this book down from start to finish. I have nothing but love, respect and adoration for Jude. FINALLY a main character who you can really root for, exploiting her flaws for her own gain and really making everyone’s day a little bit shitter if they wrong her. 
Apart from one of the most frustrating finale’s I’ve ever read, this was an absolutely flawless read for someone who loves a story of retribution.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, and Murder

sierra0107's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Haven’t read Queen of Nothing yet, but I think I can already say this is my favourite in the series. The first half was a little slow after all that happened at the ending of Cruel Prince, but it quickly ramped up. I enjoyed every second!

If you’re into the romance of the book, I would find another. The romance isn’t centre stage. What I adore about this series is the politics and character growth. I really liked how much we got to know Cardan, but him and Jude still kept up with their antics. Jude’s growth was amazing and I can’t wait for her to kick butt in the last book. 

If you’re looking for spice, find it somewhere else. I was told this book was spicy, it is not even close, sadly. If you like enemy to lovers and knives to throats, then this is for you! Again, have to remember it is YA, so it never goes as far as I would like but still pretty gruesome for a YA novel. 

Lastly, even though there are parts that could have been better, I give it 4.5 stars because I think this book has the best character growth I have ever read. As well, politics!! I love the deception and scheming that goes along with the politics of the Courts. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, and Medical trauma

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Torture

The adult/minor relationship isn’t too weird, but the Fey are immortal and have relationships with humans who are much much younger.