Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Awakening by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham

32 reviews

rmesquirrel's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

2.5

These books are supposed to be very spicy? It was a 450 page book and there was a 3 page vague description of heavy petting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Bullying

Moderate: Gaslighting and Torture

Minor: Death of parent

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I picked this up because everyone seems to be raving about this series, and I was curious.
"The Awakening" follows twin sisters: Tory and Darcy. Tory and Darcy have been in the foster care system since they were orphaned as babies. Now, 18, and kicked out of the system, they are just trying to make enough money to cover rent. But all of those worries seem inconsequential when they find out they are actually the daughters of the Savage King, and they are the rightful descendants of the fae crown. Now they must go through Zodiac Academy to learn about their true home and fight for their birthright.
This book was very fine. There is a lot of violence, nonconsensual acts, and ALOT of bullying, which I had a pretty good idea about before I started reading this. I found the hazing that the other students put Tory and Darcy through to be really off-putting, and the fact that none of the teachers did anything to remotely stop it was disheartening.
This book is definitely HEAVILY influenced by other popular stories, which is fine, but it made the book feel unoriginal.
I do not know if I will continue in this series, but I can now appreciate why everyone seems so enamored with this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Death, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content

1navn's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Torture, Confinement, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury

natlonelyghost's review

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Bullying, Violence, Death, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Murder

ifoundcallie's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Car accident, and Violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Torture, Stalking, Incest, and Vomit

alexsnerdycorner's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? No

3.5

I was hoping there would be more smut in this book, but it was still a good read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Sexual content and Sexual harassment

faduma's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Drug abuse, Torture, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual violence

azgetslit's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Bullying

Moderate: Torture and Violence

cricci's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

2.0

Feels like a Harry Potter fanfic and Mary Sue, but still an enjoyable read, if that’s what you’re into. Has a rough start with the main characters (twins, as are the authors) are ripped out of the mortal world and thrust into Solaria where they are supposed to claim their inheritance and thrones as Queens.

Fairly predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable for the sheer relaxing nature of the novel. Even though the typographical errors (an entire paragraph was duplicated and > replaced apostrophes on a few instances — perhaps due to self-publishing?) and rushed plot detracted from the novel, I couldn’t stop reading, which is why I gave the book a second star.

Since there is some promise, hopefully the future books in the series show the authors taking more time with their craft rather than rushing to get the word count.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Torture, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cursing

axahean's review

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Sexual content, Bullying, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Car accident, and Death