Reviews tagging 'War'

A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair

9 reviews

shinyfox's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol

Moderate: Gun violence and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual harassment, and War

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

I really enjoyed Hades POV. Made Persephone a little better. Hecate and Hermes are my faves. They’re witty and funny and awesome. I do feel like Hades is a bit of a cornball and sometimes thinks of nothing but sex but overall enjoyable

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction and Sexual assault

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, and War

emilywemily6's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

I gobbled this up. Like the first book, it was a fun time but not a well-written time. Though this book definitely had more plot moving the story along (which I appreciated). However, the plot got lost at parts throughout the book. I also felt like the romance part of the book was less compelling and more horny. We also saw a little bit more of Hades’ dark side which fleshed out his character. I feel like the first and second books could have been combined and condensed to make a better story overall, but I’m not made I listened to this 12 hour audiobook.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Torture, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual violence, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and War

jvalentine1386's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Gaslighting, and War

savage_book_review's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I love that someone has finally realised that there is potential in releasing two books telling the same story from both main characters' point of view! This is the story of 'A Touch of Darkness' told from Hades' perspective. But don't worry, there's plenty of new material for you to enjoy too!

This is definitely darker in tone to match the fact we're following the Lord of the Underworld, but it comes with that glimpse of vulnerability and, more importantly, makes you realise just how wrong the people of New Athens are about him (for the most part). The author has done a great job at giving Hades a more rounded personality; he absolutely stays true to the traditional ruler of Tartarus, seemingly enjoying the maiming and torture of souls... but only those who actually deserve it.

I also enjoyed the development of his friendships with Hecate and Hermes, and his rivalry with Poesidon (particularly as the latter is so, so different to his portrayal in the Percy Jackson series!). Again, when you think of the Gods you think of them all sat on their thrones on Mount Olympus, or in their finery and ruling it over the likes of Nevernight or La Rose, so to have those moments where they are just 'normal' is a really lovely comparison. 

This serves to flesh out the main narrative of 'A Touch of Darkness', giving you an insight into what happens when Persephone isn't around. In particular, there is a whole subplot regarding a mortal trying to cheat death, confounding the Fates and causing them to threaten Hades with the severance of his bond with Persephone if he doesn't bring him to justice. It feels a bit mafia-ish, and while I don't think it's the most well written it again gives you more of an insight into the internal struggles Hades faces every day. 

I think my biggest criticism with this book is that you absolutely must have read ATOD before picking this one up. It's not quite a series of vignettes, but equally it doesn't flow very well as a standalone story - you certainly need the knowledge of the previous book to fully understand what's going on. I almost wonder whether the two should have been put together and presented as a single book with alternating chapters; one Persephone, one Hades. That being said, I do get why they are separate; while there's no major spoilers, I think the slow burn effect of ATOD would have been unbalanced by the fact that you know Hades' initial reasons for approaching Persephone from the outset.

Can't wait to see where the series goes next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

ells___'s review against another edition

hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Reading this, after a touch of darkness is a must!!  I would not have enjoyed this book as much if I had not already had Persephone POV.  I also would have been so mad if I found out I had missed out on the Hades POV goodness. Getting to see what was going on in his brain and seeing all the stuff he was going through in the moment just makes the entire story feel so much more rounded and fulfilling. 

I can’t wait to see how their story continues and continue to get POV’s from both of them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Torture and Violence

Minor: War

zc2's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.0

I read persys pov first wasn’t aware hades pov existed but it was neat to see things from his perspective I enjoyed it but it the books did feel like repeats. Persys story was more intriguing to me but there was so much detail in this one it’s difficult to wrap my mind around everything that’s happening beginning to end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

kloughlin's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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: Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and War

readwithde's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content

Moderate: Gore, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and War