Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons

46 reviews

iforgotilivedhere's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

My sibling is currently reading the ACOTAR series and that’s one of my least favorite series, so I thought that since they are going through that torture, I should read one of their least favorite books.
But surprisingly, I actually really enjoyed this book. Now, by no means is this book good. The term “mind rape” is used too much, there’s a lot of incest, and some very dumb things that happen in this book, but I absolutely loved the main character, Kihrin, especially his angst with Teraeth. I don’t much care about Janel, but I will read her book shortly so, I can’t have much of an opinion on her yet. 
My main problem with this book was how often rape is used. I did like that we didn’t just let Talon go on what she did to Kihrin. There were actual parts where we saw that Kihrin did feel grief and pain from the traumas that the D’Mons put him through and I liked that! I would like some more queer rep tho, but I know there’s gonna be more. 
I absolutely love Thurvishar. That man is amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Classism

achingallover's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

poetry_birb's review against another edition

dark funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Colonisation

solanpolarn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

That was quite a journey! There were many twists and turns and end somewhere I hadn't even realised existed.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery

nishana's review against another edition

dark

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Slavery

Moderate: Homophobia

gummiefox's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

this book is complicated, but i loved it! one of the few that i feel the need to go back and reread immediately after finishing it. i'll definitely have to reread it before i start the next in the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism

rainbowcircus's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

4.25

I've read other reviews for this book and whole I understand it may not be for everyone I had a fantastic time. Kihrin is a fun MC to follow and learn about his story and the way the narrative is presented makes it easy to follow along.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Incest, Racism, and Rape

meg_leigh's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This book was recommended to me as "Game of Thrones but without the gratuitous gore and violence against women/children). That person and I must have different definitions of "gratuitous." 

It was also just so freaking hard to follow what was happening. I thought it was me but reviews show I'm not alone. I'm curious what happens in the next book, but I don't think I'm curious enough to delve back into this world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

Minor: Homophobia and Incest

motherofdogs's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

vigil's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

i can see why this book wouldn't work for everyone but it did for me. i absolutely devoured 500 pages in three days, in the time where i'm still slagging through an arduously obnoxious 291 pages of another book as of writing this review. i love storytelling that comes to you in puzzle pieces (though the author graciously gives you exactly what you need, if a plot point hinges on previously given vague information) and odd narrative structures. i love stories where the world feels truly lived in, where you are given so much worldbuilding and lore, especially stories that just have so much going on in them, whether its in the scope of the main plot or not. Because of this, i did enjoy the footnotes (not to mention here, the footnotes had a plot purpose and explanation that i found satisfying) despite generally being a footnotes hater in fiction. i'm very impressed with this being the authors debut novel, and i will definitely be continuing with the series. 

also, mild critique / wants for further installments

this book was very obviously interested in sex and sexual abuse in a way i found thoughtful, but somewhat wanting. i found the execution to be well done, but i would enjoy a deeper exploration of the topic, especially from one of the sex workers / slaves, since i think their perspective was sorely lacking in this book. however, i do hear that is something that is followed up on in later installments, so i'll withhold judgement on this front. i would also like more handling of khirin's trauma as well. i understand why it couldn't be lingered on for too long for practicalities, but as we enter territories regarding relationships for him in the coming books, i think it would be a good way to tackle it more. despite everything, it still seemed to haunt him over the novel, but wasn't addressed much. 

also shout out to jenn lyons for creating a male protag i actually enjoy. not very many cases! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Homophobia and Incest