Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Wicked King, by Holly Black

42 reviews

imcourtneymarie's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s so easy to fall into this world, these characters, and this story. Even when it feels like not much is happening, the story chugs along. Everything is for a purpose. 

In the second book, you can truly feel Jude’s exhaustion and desire for power — a common theme threaded throughout. 

This sequel read much like a TV show and ended with the perfect “season finale.” 

Spoiler

I can’t believe I was tricked into believing Cardan wasn’t the cruel prince he had been. Like Jude, I couldn’t see his scheme, I couldn’t see the harm in freeing him. He seemed so genuine and now here we are. Queen of Nothing, indeed.

0 spice, a little romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Injury/injury detail

Minor: Murder and War

tabbycattwrites's review

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

The first book was hard to get through (my issue, not the story's). The second was much easier.  Never a dull moment. Literally. I feel like I need a flowchart for the betrayals and double crosses, but I loved that even though the ultimate betrayal was predictable the motive is unclear!  Totally hooked me in for the third book.  Too many dangling threads.  I must have a resolution!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Toxic friendship, Blood, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Murder

Spoiler

Jude is singled out for some vicious, dangerous bullying/hazing because she's human. She kills in self-defense. And her relationship with Cardan is emotionally unhealthy.

lilyane's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Violence, Kidnapping, Torture, Animal cruelty, Murder, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Injury/injury detail, Animal death, Toxic friendship, and Blood

Moderate: War

Minor: Vomit

thedevouringbookshelf's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Toxic relationship

onefineelephant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

7/10. Much of what I didn't like about the first book carried on to this one, but I liked this one more because the plot seemed more cohesive and the romance aspect came more into focus. However, the romance isn't as fulfilling as I expected or wanted from this type of high-fantasy book. I don't like that Jude doesn't have a confidant, someone she trusts that she can talk to. I also really didn't like the ending because it seemed to erase all of the major plot points of the book in like 15 pages. I will say that there are some good lines throughout the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Violence, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/injury detail

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual assault, Drug use, and Vomit

lapis_lazuli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.75

OMGGGGGG THE ENDING I CANT-

Spoiler

SCREW HIM OH MY FUXKING GOD I WANT TO KILL HIM MY GOD

Really good book tho, I was driven by it, wondering who was the traitor, who betrayed her. My attention was kept at every word. Extraordinary book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Vomit, War, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Addiction

martiannadoor's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I read the first book in this trilogy and while I mildly enjoyed it, the last few chalters got me hooked, so I read the second one, and I found The Wicked King to not only be an excellent sequel, but also a lot more entertaining than the first installment. We see a lot more of the dynamic between Jude and Cardan, which gives more room for the characters to develop independently, and also with each other. I find the fantasy political aspect of Elfhame fascinating in this series and this books went even more in depth to it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

cassie12_21's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I like how Cardan’s character developed. The first half was a little slow, but the second half picked up.  I also think I may have liked this book better than the first.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/injury detail

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Gore, Murder, Blood, Confinement, Death, and Violence

Minor: War

She cuts her leg open and it made me gage a little

theinfinitebookcase's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

My feelings about this book were much the same as the first (a good read for plot, but not for characters. Plot and political stuff was much more interesting than the Jude and Cardan's relationship, unless the relationship directly impacted the politics). I still have no investment in either of the characters and do not really understand or care for their relationship (I thought by this point we would begin to see them like each other a bit, but I can hardly tell if they like each other at all. Perhaps this is the point and its just not for me, but I truthfully don't understand the appeal of their relationship, when it seems they just hate each other and have no chemistry). Still, again it was definitely an entertaining read with a good plot and I will be picking up book #3! So I can't complain too much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

ilove_books16's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.75

This book was amazing and I was left with an amazing cliffhanger at the end making me want to read the next one!!!! Would 100% recommend 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Torture