Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

95 reviews

annikenr's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.75


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thelongroadtosanity's review against another edition

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dark 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

5.0

"Love happens in all kinds of ways. Fast. Slow. In bits and pieces, or immediate. Filled with lust, one-sided longing, a snap realization never noticed before. Deeply. Thoroughly. Love is a whisper we didn’t hear or a sound that drums in our ears and drowns out everything else.”

*
**
***
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*

The tension in this was palpable. The slow burn, utterly amazing. I literally cannot wait for my book to come in two days so I can keep reading because WTF WAS THAT CLIFFHANGER OMG  

I also really enjoyed that the spice level in this series has escalated with this book and I can't wait to see what's in store for the characters. I feel like we were introduced to another big player in this so I am intrigued to see where her true allegiances lie. 

One of the most gut-wrenching, emotional, and devastating scenes I have ever read is in this book. 


I don't know if I can wait the 48 hours for the next book, but I will try my hardest. (07/2024)

5 out of 5 stars for true, emotional devastation. 


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beckyremillard's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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


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bvippolito's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Best book in the series so far for sure! Huge character building, interesting twists, and more back stories. 

Definitely more POV’s than necessary though. We get Auren, Midas, Milena, and Slade. Auren is really enough but I’m sure there will be a lot more to the Melina storyline. 

We get the romance between Slade and Auren but it’s actually not what I expected or wanted really. They speak in very modern terms and Slades language is really possessive which is odd considering the Midas story and Auren wanting to break away from that language but whatever 🤷‍♀️ its just much more lustful and passionate and romantic which didnt feel natural, though it WAS fun to read the spice, dont get me wrong.


Im excited to spend more time with the characters, especially Digby and the wraith 

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mostlyharmless42's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0


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alyyrose's review

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adventurous inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

I’m so glad I got to get back to this series and to this book! It’s so beautifully written and the growth of Auren’s character is exciting to follow and I can’t wait to get to the next one. If you’re a SJM fan I would recommend reading this series! (🌶️🌶️.5)

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karydiazc's review against another edition

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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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frantically's review

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

3.5

The lit student in me, the critic, would like to rate this 3 or even 2 stars. Nothing happened. Just like in the last book. But the Aurip (?) stan in me won out.

You know, maybe sometimes we don't need a plot. Maybe some healing and some sex is enough.

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mikasana's review

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adventurous dark emotional 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

4.25

Best of the series (so far).

This is also the only series I feel has no definite beginning, middle nor end for each book. It’s more so just one sliver of a large overarching story that stems from the first book. There’s usually 1 definite moment that becomes the highlight of each book so far but again, beginning and end are all pretty blurry. 

This approach makes the world and its world-building pretty lacking with more questions than answers as book seems to stray away from. The majority of the focus is on its characters and their relationships/development. 

So despite all its flaws, the slowburn is immaculate. The payoff from book 2 into book 3 is delicious. I love the tension, the flirtations, and the push/pull between our FMC and her love interest.

I will say, however, my biggest gripes were some of the pet names that were used (I hate seeing “baby” as a term of endearment) and some of the raunchier scenes that just felt a little bit out of place with the rest of the book.

Overall the series has me hooked and despite its flaws I will be finishing all of it.

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katreading111's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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


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