Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten

6 reviews

cheseliz's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I loved the first book, so I was excited to dive into this one. While I did like it, the pacing was off in a handful of parts, feeling like it was more focused on setup for the next book, but the ending was just as intense as I expected. I plan on reading the final part of the trilogy when it releases.

(I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator did well overall, some of her voices—namely Lore’s—irritated me at first, but I was okay with it by the end.)

Contains:
-Violence, Gore, & Brutality
-Language
-Sexual Content
-Abuse
-Trauma

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Violence

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

kbowles24's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Deportation

mandersdraws's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

Ugh I need to read it again!! I feel like Hemlock Queen gets off to a sluggish (and maybe a little depressing) start, with the protagonist taking a passive role for a few chapters, but the action and tension really ramped up quickly. It wove a bunch of loose threads together from the first book into an intricate and rich tapestry, and it gave me even more ancient mysteries to think on while I wait for the next one!

I really love how the protagonist’s powers and relationship to the religion of the world allows us to peek into the ancient past. I love how it explores the fallibility of people, and of divine figures. I love that it calls into question the motives of the people writing our laws, our bibles.

And oh, I really fucking love the tragic romance. (I especially love the very real possibility of a “completed” love triangle here, my new One True Threesome). I love how tender some of the spicy scenes are. This shit is right up my alley!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Mental illness tag because while it’s related to the fantasy elements of the book, the protagonist hears voices. That and possession are big topics of the book. Also warning for dissociation.

maddiementions's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Classism

soniajoy98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug use, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

readwithria's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

HOLY SHIT

The Foxglove King was one of my favorite books of 2023, and now The Hemlock Queen is one of my favorite books of 2024. This was my most anticipated book of the year, and it didn’t disappoint ONE BIT!

As usual, Hannah Whitten’s prose was absolutely beautiful. I highlighted so many quotes, and was on the edge of my seat the entire book. The writing and the world are so lush, I cannot get enough of them.

And let’s not forget the CHARACTERS! I love Lore and Bastian and Gabe, and I also love all the side characters and how complex they are. They really add a sense of depth to the world, and  are a reminder that other things are still happening even when we aren’t paying attention to them at the moment.

I absolutely cannot WAIT to read the last book of the series. It’s incredible, and everyone should read these books. 5 stars.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy and providing me the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Religious bigotry and Alcohol