Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Broken Knight

Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Broken Knight by L.J. Shen

14 reviews

mandersjojo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad 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

After reading, and loving, the Sinners of Saints series, I had a feeling I'd enjoy the books in the All Saints High series. After reading book 1, Pretty Reckless, I fell in love yet again. HARD. I usually have to read a book before willingly purchasing the audio version. After reading the first book in this series, all 4 books were an automatic purchase for me. And boy am I happy I did it.

Shen has a way with writing a story that captivates you from start to finish. I have yet to read one of her books, or listen, and not be hooked from the start. She isn't the type of author that you need to keep reading before it gets good. Nope. Her stories start at the top of the rollercoaster and they keep going. Good thing I haven't finished all of her books. Otherwise I'd have such huge book hangover.

Before I read this book, and downloaded the audio version, I read a few reviews. It was a double edged sword for me. One of the reviews had me crying. From a review! I still was NOT prepared for what the book had in store for me though.

Knight is the son of Dean and Rosie from Ruckus. Rosie has cystic fibrosis and has had multiple hospitalizations. Knight finds that if his body is hurting, his heart isn’t. Luna’s mom left her when she was 2 years old. Since she left, Luna has been a selective mute but doesn’t talk at all. She uses sign language to communicate with others. Luna and Knight are childhood best friends. Once Luna graduates high school (she's a year older than Knight), their friendship is put to the test time and time again.

There were so many ups and downs during this book. I highly recommend you check the CW before reading. If you're ok with the CW, don't put this on your TBR. Read it. Now. But I do warn you. Chapter 22 will wreck you. I was listening to this chapter while mopping the kitchen floor. Then I was mopping and sobbing.

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saychall's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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nbitzer's review against another edition

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jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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brucethegirl's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-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? Yes

2.5

On one hand- this is terribly written. There’s no sense of an actual plot. There’s misunderstandings that make no sense for the sake of misunderstanding. There’s terrible ableism and victim blaming.
Literally

Luna is hurt and thinks knight forced a blowjob. NOT REALIZING she signed her consent to him??? That’s actual two page dilemma that happens.

Too often in the beginning Knight FORCES Luna to talk, there is no concern about the mental state she's in to do so. He and his idiot friends- all teenagers, without training or physiological degrees- think it's high time she talks, so therefore she should. So they hold her hands and try to make her talk. This was such a triggering scene. And the worst, is this is all portrayed as Luna just "taking too long" to bite the bullet and use her voice. There's an air of "what an ass." but its also a very strong "This is the tough love she needs." Yea no. I need Shen to take at least one course of basic compassion. Let alone disability rights.

On the other hand - think I wasn’t sobbing,

when Rosie was dying/died

whole tears falling down my cheek at certain scenes. I also finished the whole book, and I do not hesitate to dnf.

The official rating is a 2.5. I would have given this a 1 based on the negative issues I have with it, but I kept wanting to read more (so I added a star) and another half star for pulling that strong emotion out of me when I rarely cry for books.

Would I pay actual money for this book? No. Would I get it free on kindle? Yea sure why not.

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emilyyreadss's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

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

4.25

I really liked this book, but the constant misinformation was infuriating.

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efulham's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.25

Absolutely awful. The relationship between Luna and Knight was entirely messed up, and I never felt like I had a reason to root for them. Knight was clearly abusive and awful to Luna. Would not recommend to anyone.

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vertreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

this book destroyed me.

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meike_reads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

OMG! This book was amazing. I loved Luna and Knight. Their love story was heartbreaking.
Both of them started off as two broken Individuals and before their relationship could work they needed to find out who they were on their own and learn to be independent. Their story is complicated and frustrating at times. However it’s great to see them overcome tragic events and heartbreaks.
I usually don’t like miscommunication in romance books. But I didn’t feel the same about this book because there was a valid reason. Both Knight and Luna were to focused on protecting the other person and doing everything for each other that they both forgot to take care of themselves.

I especially loved how in the end Dixie and Knight became close and how Dixie was very selfless in giving up her job and home to care for Knight and his family. Dixie’s story is tragic and she is probably one of my favorite characters in the book (besides the main cast). Rosie as well. She is so caring and loving and you can tell she cares so much for her children.

I also love the concept of having a series about the children of the sinners of saints couples. You can really tell that all the couples from the first series have become even stronger and that they still love each other so much :))

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amy_sutt's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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