Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Anathema by Keri Lake

34 reviews

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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Physical abuse and Self harm

nicolenoodles's review

I was so disappointed in this book after a really strong start.  It drew me in straight away with its atmosphere and characters, but by half way all momentum had fizzled out. The insta-attraction was jarring and clumsy. The focus on random details was frustrating and instead of adding to the atmosphere and world, it detracted from the plot and created so much drag.  I also felt the use of sexual violence became gratuitous, it added nothing to the plot and, in my opinion, was entirely unnecessary. I don’t avoid books which those triggers, but it was not sensitively handled.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

epolly's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Honestly, 6 ⭐️s. What an immersive, enchanting experience it was to read this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Gore

magiccc's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Slavery, and Vomit

atsy6's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

It was an intensely complicated world. Tons of world building. I really appreciate the map, the Glossary and race descriptions. I frequently had to reference them. It was pretty slow going for the first 60%. After that the plot really started moving and things were developing. Overall I'm very intrigued by this world and story line and I hope the next books can focus on the plot now that the extensive world has been set up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy

pascaleg's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? N/A

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

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

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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.

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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

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

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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

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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