Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Ship of Bones & Teeth by Karina Halle

20 reviews

calliecuriosity's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

stardust_heidi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

Okay, here’s the deal. I really enjoyed the story. The characters were great. I really loved the

pirate vampires

— that was a fun twist on the pirate trope. 

The execution of the story especially the writing and word usage, however, left a lot to be desired. At times I felt like the author was trying too hard for it to be a pirate theme, and it was just…too much. It made the language feel stilted and unwieldy. At times, I was just like, pick one speech pattern and stick with it. I’m not sure if this author uses a professional editor or not, but it could have used it. 

The darker elements felt kind of awkward to me as well. I don’t know. It was fun, but I was overall fairly disappointed in the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Some non-con situations

taking blood/vampire feeding

; attempted rape

stabby1's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

This book could have been better as it’s own story, without it having the “re-telling” of the little mermaid theme. Because really at the beginning and end were the only pieces that were even remotely similar, I think it would have been better to not even use those similarities and have it be it’s own story. I also found it funny that she used words like c*ck and c*nt during the sex scenes but only the word arse and not ass, which just felt weird. This is definitely not a sweet romantic retelling of the little mermaid and the author does have a strong disclaimer at the beginning of the book to warn readers, which I appreciated (but went ahead and read anyways!). Overall not a bad read, lots of magic and action and redemption for the characters in the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, and Blood

kkxmac's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

angelamarcela2's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.0

I enjoyed this book- it is definitely a dark romantasy retelling of the Little Mermaid with a few twists. What drove me into wanting to read it was the supposed Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, which ultimately came from the location of the plot, the language, and the captain being a little “Jack Sparrow”-like. 

I wish there was a bit more emphasis or building on Marrens 10year gap in the story which we know was a large issue in her marriage with Aerik. But if that gap was worth her literally ending his life, I think it’s worth exploring in the novel!

The spice scenes were okay- they come off a little “rapey” in nature, but the author does issue a trigger warning for such. After all is it DARK romantasy. 

All in all I did enjoy the book- I think the author does a great job at bringing the reader to the location and writes with vivid imagery. The book was entertaining for me enough to get through in only a few days. Fans of this genre and pirates of the Caribbean will absolutely love this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder

thisdiwata_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Be prepared for this book. Karina will do some damage! 

Overall I rated this book 4.25 as there were some parts that were a tiny bit dragging for me while 90% of the book was so amazing! 

I have so much thoughts I apologize as early as now if this will be chaotic! 

I wished Nerissa had a lot more time in the story because I honestly ended up loving her! She’s my top 3 badass female from this book, yes I know there are just 3 girls but it’s my opinion. 

I loved Sam so much and girl WHY?!?!?!?!? I thought after what happened to Henry we will be done with the deaths.  😭😭😭

This story did not hesitate to bring us death, gore & monsters and it was not a tame version of any of the 3 themes. 

I of course loved Ramsey and  Meren and how their enemies to lovers story unfolded and that fucking Nill came through in the end! 

Spice: 3.5/5 
>these 2 can go at it ANYWHERE!
> the number of times Ramsey went on his knees! Deymmmmm!!
> the sand? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Domestic abuse

millenialglowworm's review

adventurous dark emotional funny fast-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

5.0

I’ve never read a mermaid or a pirate story before picking this up. I’m glad that Halle’s work was my first! I love the characters in this story and even though there is tragedy and horror elements, it was full of adventure and 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️!! I’m also glad Halle answered a question I had through out the book about the HOW of mermaid….relations 😅. Ramsey and Maren’s banter had me laughing. I’m usually not a reader who relishes on the setting of a book but Halle does a great job of describing the scenery and feeling of all the places the book takes place. Halle is definitely one of my favorite authors!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death, Confinement, and Death of parent

bekahzabel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? No

3.75

ark Fantasy Romance Little Mermaid Retelling? Yeah I was sold, and this may cause a canon event.
3.75🌟/5 & 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (it got pretty hot in there wowza)

Definitely check out triggers before reading if you have any. 

Syrens, Sea Witches, Pirates, & Krakens
Enemies to Lovers
Touch Her & Die
Found Family
Morally Gray MMC & FMC
Dom/Sub
BDSM

What can I say, I was into it. Devoured this, and suddenly I’m a Karina Halle fan. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

prettynerdy3's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

bookboxbabe'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

all the stars. every single star there is, put it here.

also ramsey is my book boyfriend. hands off.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail