Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

56 reviews

mikasana's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.25

Best of the series (so far).

This is also the only series I feel has no definite beginning, middle nor end for each book. It’s more so just one sliver of a large overarching story that stems from the first book. There’s usually 1 definite moment that becomes the highlight of each book so far but again, beginning and end are all pretty blurry. 

This approach makes the world and its world-building pretty lacking with more questions than answers as book seems to stray away from. The majority of the focus is on its characters and their relationships/development. 

So despite all its flaws, the slowburn is immaculate. The payoff from book 2 into book 3 is delicious. I love the tension, the flirtations, and the push/pull between our FMC and her love interest.

I will say, however, my biggest gripes were some of the pet names that were used (I hate seeing “baby” as a term of endearment) and some of the raunchier scenes that just felt a little bit out of place with the rest of the book.

Overall the series has me hooked and despite its flaws I will be finishing all of it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pregnancy

itsbrianascall's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

crystalfaery's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, and Alcohol

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad 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 really enjoyed this one.

There were many twists and reveals that I didn’t see coming. The cliff hanger leaves much to question that I’m assuming will be answered in the future books.

I love Slade. I love the Wrath. Auren is growing on me….like a fungus. Lol

watching Auren come into her power was beautiful. She still made a few mistakes but she has learned to fight for herself and for Slade and it was so refreshing.

The sex scenes were very hot! It switched to more modern language for a second and it was a bit jarring at first but it was well done. There were also some heart wrenching scenes that were well done and had my jaw on the floor. I really liked this one and I’m glad I stuck it out to get to this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Infertility, Vomit, Kidnapping, and War

dani_reis's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying and Mental illness

spaghettii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

eleek0609's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Infertility, Infidelity, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

katharina90's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

The pace picks up a bit and there's more plot but considering the page count, it feels like we should be seeing a lot more action. We finally get some smut though! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, and Torture

lydiasturges's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.25

Thank the lord that Auren is finally seeing the light when it comes to Midas!! I just wish she didn’t have to be used and abused as much before she realized her worth. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Violence, and War

dealfea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

Gleam might be my favourite book in the series. The banter between Auren and Slade is so fun. I love Auren standing up to Midas, fighting back any way she can.

The absolut heartbreak of her realising just how thoroughly he used and abused her. I hate Midas so fucking much. Auren's death for him was surely painful but it should have been even worse. The scene of Auren loosing her ribbons still tears out my heart and made me sob.

This woman deserves all the happiness she can get and I hate that she still has to suffer through so much more 😞 I really do love this series and the characters in it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail