Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

6 reviews

thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Kennedy Ryan never fails to write a story that is unputdownable. Max and Lennix’s story is not the typical infatuation/3rd act breakup/reconciliation, but the progression of two star crossed lovers meeting and pulling away, but always finding their way back to one another. This is a story of rich history and culture, injustice, and privilege. As this is book one of the duet be warned that it ends on a tense cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see how KR brings it all together in book two.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Death of parent

michelle_my_belle's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Police brutality, and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying and Cursing

Minor: Murder, Trafficking, and Stalking

manoncrochan's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, and Death

Moderate: Stalking, Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

churrosmom's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcohol and Colonisation

agnesbebon's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.0

This would’ve been 4 stars if they didn’t meet when she was 17 and he was a masters student. I cannot give higher than a 3 to a book with “she doesn’t look seventeen” in it. I also had similar issues with The Kingmaker that I had with Grip. 

I’m not sure if Lennix was supposed to be acespec/demi, but if so I didn’t love how that was talked about.

I liked the timeline of the book (minus the whole meeting when shes 17 thing), how it goes forward four and then ten years ahead. I like Lennix way more than I Like Maxium - I hate a man that plays devils advocate. The jobs and interests of the characters were just as interesting as the romance. Kennedy Ryan is also a great writer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Racism, Grief, Death, Racial slurs, and Genocide

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Stalking

emfass's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective tense 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

4.75

I mean, I just, I can't....PHEW. Kennedy Ryan has been at the top of my list of Authors I Need to Check Out and my friends, the rumors are fuckin' true. She is writing on another level. 

The intense emotionality, the crystal clear characters, the consent--my god, the CONSENT! The way Maxim checks in with Lennix, over and over again, while still making it abundantly clear all the ways he wants her. *fans self* 

I was also SO INTO the political discussions in this book, and the awareness raised by making the heroine, Lennix, "a proud member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation."

I loved the way both Maxim and Lennix were uncompromising and ambitious in going after what they wanted for their lives. The way that (small spoiler) Ryan uses time in this story to track a relationship over many years, and the ways people grow and change and come to know themselves and hold onto the memories that matter most was just...UGH. SO GOOD. 

That's all the words I have for now. Please note this one ends on about as high stakes a cliffhanger as they come, and you will want to have The Rebel King teed up and ready to go.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Police brutality, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, and Racial slurs

Lots of references to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women