Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Anathema by Keri Lake

18 reviews

riddikulyssreads's review

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

"You are mine, Lunamiszka. For all eternity and whatever lies beyond it. No soul has ever been more intricately woven into mine than yours."

Maevyth is a nineteen-year-old girl living in a highly religious community. Having been found next to the dreaded Eating Woods as a baby, she has always been looked at as cursed and shunned by her community. Through the Eating Woods and beyond the magical forbidden boundary resides Zevander. Cursed from infancy, he has become the coldest and most calculating assassin for the king of Aethyria. In order to break his curse, Zevander needs Maevyth’s blood…all of it. Through a series of unfortunate events, Maevyth unexpectedly finds herself on the opposite side of the divide - the first human to do so. Their worlds collide - unraveling a trail of unanswered questions, long-lost history and unexpected emotions. His obsession with her threatens to ruin everything he’s worked so hard for. But only the banished know what lies beyond the woods.

This book is a dual POV and the first in The Eating Woods Duology. It’s perfect for readers who love gothic dark fantasy with a little bit of added horror. Be warned, it’s a true SLOW BURN. Keri does add a disclaimer for that in the beginning. If you want fast romance, this is not for you. This book is plot-HEAVY and fantasy-forward. It has tropes such as enemies-to-lovers, one bed and found family.  

This was my first Keri Lake book and I’m HOOKED. I can’t wait to read more of her work. Her writing is so intricate and immersive. I got visually lost in this world and I did NOT want to come out. I’ll admit, I dragged this out a little because I truly didn’t want it to end. Every interaction and scene in this book was necessary to experience the full immersion of who the characters are and how the world works. The unique magic system was captivating. I never felt bored or like I was overwhelmed by too much fantasy. It was a perfect blend. The glossary was very helpful for reference. This story was dark, gritty and hauntingly beautiful. The angst and tension of the slow burn has me aching for more. The side characters are multi-layered and I can’t wait to learn even more about them. The MCs’ chemistry is on literal fire. I am DESPERATE for Eldritch after that ending!!

⚠️ Please read all trigger warnings before reading this book! ⚠️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (lots of tension, spice towards the end)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Drug abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Addiction, Genocide, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Child death and Pregnancy

booksandjules's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Physical abuse and Self harm

wideawakenow's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Torture

Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Pregnancy

melissalivanos's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Torture

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.

---

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

nicoleb_trippin's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

brd_emi's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Toxic friendship

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! 

---

Content Warnings

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

srodz's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

bigdungeonenergy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.5

*Bumped to a 4.5 because it’s been days and I’m still thinking about it*
What. Did. I. Just. Read!?
I honestly don’t know what it is about this book but I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t decide if I even LIKED it. But I could. Not.put.it.down!
Despite the main characters not even meeting until like 300 pages in- it was still filled with mystery and drama and horrors. I got the shivers so many times from some of the descriptions. 
Be aware this is a SLOW burn. But it was worth the wait. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy