Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Broken Knight

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Broken Knight by L.J. Shen

11 reviews

bribreez's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

4.5

*Please check trigger warnings before reading

4.5⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

Luna Rexroth and Knight Cole had practically grown up together since their parents were best friends, it made sense they would see a lot of each other. From a young age, it was always Luna and Knight together, the best of friends, and Knight being the type of person that even from the age of nine, was wholeheartedly or shall we say obsessively in love with Luna. Now, this book wasn’t boring by any means, and with the added touch of angst, darkness, and possessive morally gray characters, L.J. Shen crafted a romance between two young friends, and how over the years their friendship was so much more, as well as the obstacles that came their way. If you want a story that will keep you entertained, a possessive yet lowkey unhinged MMC, and a romance that will keep you on your toes, then this is a book I would definitely recommend.

Now, the only other time I’ve read a book by, L.J. Shen was the one she wrote with Parker S. Huntington. Getting to read a book solely written by L.J. Shen, I was proven right by instantly enjoying this book! Something about the way L.J. Shen writes her books highlights morally gray characters, unhinged MMC’s, and basically the complete opposite to the usual romances I’ve read. This story was a nice change up to the books I’ve read previously, and I really appreciated the way that this book showed me another type of characters that I haven’t read about in a while. Knight and Luna were an interesting couple especially with their friendship having been a strong part of their story from the very beginning. To see how much Knight and Luna cared deeply for each other was clear from the very beginning, but the road to their happily ever after was difficult and by no means easy. L.J. Shen showed that Knight was obsessed with Luna, and over the years, his love and loyalty to her was still strong even with the ups and downs they dealt with. L.J. Shen wrote the kind of story that upped the unhinged and possessive factor to an all time high, and I absolutely adored that part of this book.

I will say, if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like the whole “back and forth” miscommunication trope then maybe you won’t like this book. From the beginning, it was clear that Knight and Luna cared and loved each other deeply, but through Knight’s possessive nature and feeling betrayed by something that Luna did, it turned into a bit of a mess with them not straightening things out. In a way, it felt like the miscommunication trope because, for all the arguments and Knight being rude to Luna, the dynamic between them wasn’t necessarily the same as before. In other instances, Knight and Luna were never officially together so, when it came to them seeing each other with other people, there were a couple jealous moments sprinkled throughout the story. Nonetheless, I wasn’t entirely bothered by Knight and Luna’s miscommunication more so because, I think it revealed the raw and emotional connection between them. Regardless of what happened between Luna and Knight, it was always going to be, “Ride or Die.”

Overall, this was a nice change up to the usual books I’ve been reading as of late. Knight and Luna’s story really caught my attention from the beginning. From the way Knight was always protective over Luna, and softened his harsh exterior around her throughout the years showed how much he cared for her. Plus, Knight was the kind of guy that gave off, “I hate everyone but her” vibes, as well as, “it’s always been you”. Knight and Luna’s friendship was a focal point of the story as it showed the close bond they formed from when they were kids, and how despite their ups and downs, they were always still there for each other. There was plenty of angst, and emotional parts in Knight and Luna’s story so, keep in mind that this wasn’t a cute romance, it was raw and at times hard for both Luna and Knight. I think the way this story was written really highlighted the highs and lows in Luna and Knight’s relationship over the years as well as showing how the romance wasn’t your typical easy peasy path to a happily ever after. Knight and Luna’s story was full of angst, raw emotion, love, and a unique bond together. I liked the way the story ended up being which was unique and interesting. This was my first time reading a book solely written by, L.J. Shen and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much I enjoyed reading this book. Knight and Luna were flawed individuals, but over the course of the story they opened themselves up from their vulnerabilities and fears to each other. If you’re looking for a romance that isn’t your typical sweet romance and are craving something new with morally grey guys, angst, spice, fiends to lovers, and more then I would recommend reading this book.

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megsssss_'s review against another edition

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emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

lanaw's review against another edition

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dark emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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

"Broken Knight" is an absolute masterpiece, deserving of every bit of praise it receives. From the first page to the last, it grips you tightly, refusing to let go even after you've finished reading. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, leaving me breathless and in awe of its brilliance.

The characters, especially Knight and Luna, are beautifully crafted and utterly captivating. Their journey is raw, emotional, and incredibly relatable. Knight's brokenness and Luna's strength create a dynamic that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Their evolution throughout the story is nothing short of phenomenal.

Shen's writing is exquisite, weaving together a narrative that is as poignant as it is powerful. She doesn't shy away from the tough topics, tackling them with grace and sensitivity. The themes of love, loss, and resilience resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

But what truly sets "Broken Knight" apart is its ability to inspire hope even in the darkest of moments. Despite the tears and heartache, there is a sense of optimism that shines through, reminding us that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

In short, "Broken Knight" is a masterpiece that deserves to be read and cherished by all. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page, and one that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for a powerful and unforgettable read. 5/5 stars, without a doubt.

Content Warnings

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

Content Warnings

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

Content Warnings

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.

Content Warnings

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.

Content Warnings

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 :))

Content Warnings

elinlovisa's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

<I’m emotionally drained, I’ve cried so frickin much> but despite that I absolutely loved it!!

Content Warnings

briahchaisson11's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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