Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

King of the Dark by Ariana Nash

6 reviews

guybrushtmp's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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

4.0

Ok this is definitely more Silk & Steel than it is Dante's End. I didn't even hate the insta-lust like I usually do. I am intrigued to see the building relationship in book 2.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Murder, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual content, and Slavery

corin_134340's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Incest

fyarae's review

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, and Violence

sixav's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Drug use

Minor: War, Suicidal thoughts, and Incest

yoda32's review

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I’m disappointed because this sounded like everything I love- Grimdark fantasy, lethal Prince, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance- and yet it was meh.

I think my biggest problem was that I couldn’t get attached to Niko. He was just so STUPID. For someone proclaimed to be a deadly soldier known across the land as “the butcher” he was a bit of wimp. Now I get he’s fighting the darkness and all his inner turmoil- which I guess was interesting- but he was betrayed so many times throughout this book and seen NONE OF IT coming.  And you’re perhaps wondering- well yeah, isn’t that the meaning of betrayAl. Yes but Niko was a solider trained to spot shit like this! Where was his cunning? Or his distrustful nature he so promised?

Next to Niko infuriating me, don’t even get me started on the “romance” and I’m not talking about the set up enemies to lovers( that I’m interested in). So Niko, along with making terrible decisions, thinks with his dick, and instead of scoping out the terrifying palace, and you know, being the assassin we are promised, he instead falls for Julian, the princes’ personal guard. And we the poor readers- get a whole load of romantic jargon. Which went EXACTLY how I expected it to go.

The plot was meh. I think personally, Niko and Julians romance annoyed me so much that I couldn’t concentrate. Towards the end, the plot became slightly more intriguing, but for the most part.. no.

Now all that being said- there were SOME parts of the book I liked, or else I wouldn’t have finished it.

Firstly- Prince Vasili. He was awful, cruel and conniving. The exact kind of character I love. At least HE embraced his darkness. Also the actual romance is set between him and Niko and despite all my complaints, I’m curious.

Secondly- The author did something I’ve never read about before, she made the elves evil cruel creatures and damn I want to know more.

Thirdly- It’s clear that the dynamic between Niko and Vasili will change from barely tolerating each other to more and despite it all- I’m hooked. I want to know how they fall in love. Like seriously- how!

Anyways, this wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but if you’re intrigued by  dark fantasy, and are curious about the lethal Prince Vasili, I recommend you try this. You may like it more than me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Incest

Spoiler

Attempted rape, non con, dubious content, drugged without consent.

avidreader6's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood and Drug use