Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

25 reviews

wornpagesandendlesscoffey's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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

The Kingmaker was a much needed Romance featuring a diverse cast of characters. I enjoyed that the MC was indigenous, and though her story is tragic, it is necessary and I appreciate how Ryan is unafraid to delve into the depths of Lennix's experiences as the daughter of a woman who has been added to the ranks of the MMIW, entwining it with who she has become, without making it her entire story. It is a driving force throughout, but Ryan has left us room for love and laughter and friendship and ambition beyond Lennix's trauma. This book handles so well many social and cultural issues that lack representation too often. 
The love story in this book is absolute gold. The Kingmaker jumps between several well known romance tropes, including the hard to perfect Second Chance, which Ryan has done superbly well, delivering a sweet, passionate romance without sacrificing a character's likability to do so. Both Lennix and Maxim are characters to root for, and I truly enjoyed how she handled bringing them back together without making that age gap creepy. 
The Kingmaker shows us that, sometimes, love also has to wait on timing. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

kenziewol's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Colonisation

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Grief

sdupont's review against another edition

emotional 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

I enjoyed The Kingmaker! Kennedy Ryan is so good at writing emotional connections between love interests. She’s particularly great at second chance romances where she builds a strong foundation, realistic conflict, and then a strong connection when they reunite. I love how strong willed and determined both Lennix and Maxim are. They are so passionate about their causes and each other. I easily found myself rooting for them. And this cliffhanger?! Thank god I can immediately download the next book to my Kindle because I need to know what happens next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Kidnapping

Moderate: Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Murder

deidrelj's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Literal cliffhanger…I had other books scheduled to read after this one but they’ll just have to wait because I have to read the next in this series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation

Minor: Murder

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

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Stalking

krystalframe's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Death of parent

Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Grief

Minor: Misogyny and Murder

psydneigh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-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

I love Lennix. Im kind of on the fence about Maxim in this one. Can’t wait to finish their story up! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation

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

Moderate: Alcohol and Colonisation

kiabejero's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Grief and Death of parent

iamsammie27's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Racism, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Grief, and Murder