Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

22 reviews

avialaeleigh's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-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

I do not know what thr author put in thesr books but I cannot put them down. 

So much happened that I'm a little all over the place and have no idea where to start. 1st ladies, gents, and nonbinaries they finally did it not more flirting and half assed stolen kisses Auren and Slade finally did the dead, multiple times. And it was HOT 🔥🥵. I am not usually one that cares if there is full on smut in a romance book but in this one it was top tier *chefs kiss*. 

Also I just love the banter between Slade and Auren it's giving that perfect enemies to lovers vibe that we all die for. Also the banter between Auren and the wicked as well. She just fits right in with them and I can't wait to see them all together permanently. 

Also fucking finally Midas gets what he deserves. Especially after finding out that he was the Baren that we see in her flash backs to her past. What the fuck made him so intitled. If I could jump into the book I would torture him for all the shit he's done to Auren. It's fucking ridiculous. 

Also I cried when he cut of her ribbons. What the fuck is wrong with him? Did he really expect her not to retaliate at that? Is he that stupid or is under the assumption that she just a stupid girl that will just do what he says because he said it? Men are stupid. 

Also I am so glad we find out who fake Rip was. It's his mother fucking brother. I mean it makes sense given context but still. I hope we see more of him. And is he also Fae and if he is what are his powers? Will we learn the powers of the rest of the wicked? I guess we will find out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

lea_lea's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking

karydiazc's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-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

3.75

Everything was so predictable... except for that one last plot twist I definetly did not see coming, that last betrayal...
I loved it 

Midas was so manipulative all the way and finding out he was Barden East was the cherry on top, when he revealed everything he did to get to Auren... omg.
Also, Auren finally ending midas with gold was bliss. I kind of wish he suffered more, but still, it was gratifying.
I kind of wanted the nobles and the people to realize it was Auren all along who had the gold, but making asumptions about her being able to steal powers was better somehow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

rubisbooknook's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Ok this is the book where this series fully shines! Book 1 and 2 in the series were all set up for the perfection that is this book. I absolutely loved it! I was so emotionally invested in Auren’s journey to find her strength and it was beautiful seeing it. The love story finally took off in this book too and I was obsessed it. There were also some shocking revelations and surprising moments that had me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I always say the best was to know if a book was good is when it makes you get so lost in it that you forget you’re reading, and this is one of those stories that has the ability to do that! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail

dani_reis's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying and Mental illness

spaghettii's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

hmb86's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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 Sexual harassment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Pregnancy and War

feuchtitive's review

dark tense slow-paced

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

1.5

Just meh. But I’ve invested. Why am I still here?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

scarlett_f's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Trafficking, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War

bangiebangs's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

Yes, this book finally delivers. You get all the steamy spice, the romance, the tension, and the twists. That, but heed the CNs again - where the last one was tamer, this one is pretty heavy, especially if you're sensitive to drug use and abuse. Spice, would say 4/5!

I read this one in one sitting again, and I feel like the story keeps picking up steam! The romance between Auren and Slade blossoms into steamy sex (dare I say: finally the slow burn is over!), and the first big story arc feels wrapped up. The book still ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but the main arcs are finished. 

There are a couple pretty intense themes in this one.

For me, the drug abuse - especially the scenes where Auren gets drugged - were pretty intense. This, along with the physical and psychological abuse is a severe mix.

Overall really good! I'm beginning to think you can skip book 1 (and maybe read a synopsis, or not), and just start with book 2. This could have been a duology. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Slavery and Torture