Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Anathema by Keri Lake

9 reviews

julietrblack's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Very dark book with some pretty heavy topics. Highly recommend looking at all the trigger warnings first. This book has every trope you would want: touch her and you die, one bed, dark and brooding MMC, and mates. Even though I've read these tropes many times, this still ended up being a fresh and new story. I'm usually not a fan of gory and graphic horror scenes, but for this book I made an exception. The world is so fascinating and I loved how the magic system worked. Nothing felt like filler and the side characters were beautifully written as well. It does end on a cliff hanger, though, so be prepared.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

doahdancer's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

There was so much here to love, but not enough to say this will be in my top ten at the end of the year.

The MMC was a broody, traumatized burnt marshmallow of a man. The gothic atmosphere reminded me of One Dark Window, but with more abject horror. It was easy for me to get lost in the environment and adore the characters.

Still, the first half was paced too slowly and the second half rocketed the slow burn romance to levels I didn't feel had been earned. There were some interesting plot twists which cast doubt on the motivations of seemingly reliable characters, but they were delivered so abruptly and without fanfare that I was left more confused than surprised.

This would be 5 stars if the romance developed more slowly and the plot, which completely turned itself inside out and became sort of shapeless in its twisting, regained clarity and drive before the end.

Will keep the next on my TBR.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent

cayleejanke's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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 felt like getting into the book took forever, like I really wasn’t hooked until like 300 pages in. That’s generally the size of some other books I read, so having to get past so much to get into it was a challenge for me. I do really appreciate the world building, and I think that book two will just unravel everything. I was a bit overwhelmed by it though - I thought maybe it could’ve been simplified just a smidge. BUT that detailed writing came in HOT with them spicy scenes 😏🥵 I mean, the sloooooow burn was antagonizing the entire time, but I do like some good metaphorical foreplay. I loved the element of horror and gothic references throughout, definitely my kind of vibe. It made all of the world building and traumatic backstories blend in very well with the overall storyline. What I want to see more of in book two is Raivox! We love a little companion pet. I still have many questions about this story that I hope are answered in book 2, and yes, I will be reading that one as well! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Classism

lili_quinn's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism

thebooknymph's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol

one_more_chapter96's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Well written, nicely paced and unique world building. Enjoyed learning about the main characters and they all felt distinct which is nice. Loved the MMC and FMC, who was naive but not stupid or annoying - very refreshing. Loved the slow burn and the mysteries that kept unravelling and how Maeve is slowly coming into her power. Really enjoyable and look forward to the second book! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Death, Pedophilia, and Death of parent

camshe's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

It took a long time to get into the story, the pace is quite slow. The characters are not well enough developed - I could not find someone to like! Totally unclear why the heroine would like a guy that is imprisoning her and being a general asshole. Via his inner dialog we know he is a good guy, but she has no reason to believe that he is anything but cruel: very unattractive!! Some ok side characters, and the pace picked int he second half of the book. Why anyone would be in the mood for sexy times under the circumstances at the end of the book is beyond me: graphic horror scenes but the two lovebirds are getting it on. Could not follow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Torture, and Blood

Moderate: Drug use

kerry_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

mzquirk's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion and War