Reviews tagging 'Violence'

A Ship of Bones & Teeth by Karina Halle

22 reviews

rhi_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, and Sexism

lizzie_b99's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

A delightful mix of The Little Mermaid, Pirates of the Caribbean, and

Twilight

. I really appreciate the detailed trigger warning list at the beginning of the book and the focus on self-acceptance throughout all the fantastical, graphic shenanigans. There was some unnecessary repetition of words/topics in the text, and I noticed more spelling errors near the end, but I really enjoyed this take on The Little Mermaid, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Love that Halle includes some recommended readings by her, but also other authors in her Afterword. I like the focus on accepting the monster within, but I'm a little unsure about how I feel with how far this book pushes this idea. It is a dark, gothic book, though, so that probably goes with the genre's territory. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

sierrayak's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

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

bookedbykiki's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Gore

bangiebangs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

5.0

5* from me.

So this is my first pirate romance (ever), and it delivered! I love Ramsay and I love Maren, and I read this off two lines quoted in some short video and knew nothing else about anything. Which was exactly the right way to read this, I think!

The pacing is really good, there is humor, it's frustrating sometimes (so angsty all around) but the characters' actions make sense. They talk about what is going on with them emotionally. Maybe not always instantly, but the fact that this doesnt have a lot of the miscommunication trope is a HUGE plus. It actually felt so much more real: sometimes you can tell what's up, sometimes you need a while to get the courage to speak. You grow, you leave things behind. 

Idk why this gripped me so much, but pretty sure that this detail sold me 100%, and I'm sure I will re-read this. 

“Play nice,” he warns, his grip tight and bruising as he presses me against the wall.
I manage to move my throat enough to spit in his face. My spit lands on his forehead, a sliver of fish bone in it. He grunts and reaches up with his other hand, wiping it away.
“Do it again,” he whispers, eyes dancing darkly. “This time in my mouth, please.” He opens his mouth, showing me his tongue, wanting it. Damn it. Everything that’s uncouth and repulsive about me he somehow loves. 
He shuts his mouth and grins. “Fine. Just know I will be returning the favor one day.”

Like omg yes. 

By the way, I didn't get the Jack Sparrow vibe that others talk about here. Yes, there is rum, but Ramsay often stays sober, isn't some whacky figure, just a hard-ass pirate (and kinky af). 

So TL;DR this is dark romance, it's believable, it has pirates and sirens and cursed ships and it is dark. Heed the CNs, and if you're sensitive to violence,

esp spousal and sexual abuse,

maybe skip this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Vomit, and Death of parent

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