Reviews with content warning for Slavery - King of Battle and Blood

My expectations were very low for this book, but I enjoyed it. There is more plot and emotion than I expected. I found the cuts between the emotional moments and the sex scenes jarring, but hey different people cope in different ways I guess. The MC felt very realistic to me. She takes her emotions out on others by starting fights when she's upset, so I can see why some people found her annoying. She also took forever to figure out the very-foreshadowed reveal, but I thought that was supposed to be some dramatic irony where the reader knows before the character.

Throughout the book, I always felt the need to know what happened next. I picked up the sequel asap. I really love some of the supporting characters, though I feel several are under-developed. Overall, I'd say it's mostly well-written prose. There are a few glaring flaws, but if you can look past them, it's a fun read.

Content Warnings

fayeelizabeth's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

would have been 4 stars but killing off one of the lesbians and leaving the other to suffer is a crime i cannot forgive

Content Warnings

vikie_vi's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.5

Great story. Certain parts were a bit hard to enjoy like the random

slavery arc

. I also didn’t so much enjoy the love story or the heroine.

Content Warnings

meg_k_white's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

I liked this, but I wasn't blown away, and some things really bothered me. The fantasy and paranormal aspects were fun to read, and the spice was spicy and sprinkled throughout. I also really liked the personal growth Isolde went through as she learns the truth about the world she was apparently sheltered from. I didn’t like the petty girl fights or the fixation on Isolde’s breasts.

***SPOILERS***

I really didn't like the reincarnation trope in the sense that everyone knew who Isolde was except her. And even after she did realize who she was... She was still Isolde? But did her entourage like her for who she was or for who she is? This lowered my rating.

I also didn't like that Isolde's people are enslaved... And that they are the only POC in the story. And that her father kept it a secret not only from her but also from her mother... And was everyone else in the kingdom kept in the dark? Or did they not tell Isolde either? This lowered my rating even more.

Bottom line, I won't be reading book two.

Content Warnings

mycutykoala's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

nandakandabooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

fast-paced

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

2.0

Porn without plot.
Every plot point was quite predictable & this also early on.
Finished this in the hope to get one or more glimpses on my favourite characters but only got sex.
Two stars because there have been two characters I had been interested in.

Content Warnings

sailorsardonyx's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

etherealisnt's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense

3.0

Honestly, I'm not even sure what I think of this book.. I've seen all of the mixed reviews and I'm very unsure of my opinion too.

There wasn't anything majorly wrong with this book per se, but it was all over the place sometimes. Basically just vampire erotica... I would've wanted more of the fantasy/vampiric aspects.

This book also made me realise that I might not like the trope where the woman's soul gets reborn and she now looks different, acts different, IS different, but she remembers the past life and suddenly she's like: "It's me, and you were actually in love with me, but it's not actually me!" The two characters just feel too far apart from each other. But then again, maybe they're meant to be apart, I have no idea.

I knew then who I truly was. Who I had always been. Yesenia of Aroth. I was Yesenia of Aroth—not now, not in this body, but I had been her in another life, in Adrian’s life.

I don't have much to say, I don't think I wasted my time by reading this, but I don't feel super excited to read the series. (update: I have completely forgotten this series and I won't be returning.)

Content Warnings

More...