Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Gild, by Raven Kennedy

103 reviews

bangiebangs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.0

This was dark. Darker than I expected tbh, so heed the CNs - this has a lot of uncomfortable elements. 

Spoiler

The fact that the king's harem are called "saddles", or that this is also the term for any sex worker ("wh*re" is used a lot) isn't the worst, but there are scenes very close to rape, and one that is a quite detailed rape scene).

The one thing that bothers me the most is the relationship between Auren and the king tbh. I'm not on bord with seeing this as anything but exploitative.

Spoiler

In the backstory, we learn that they started their relationship when he rescued her from an abusive situation (sexual trafficking is implied), and they start a relationship when she is 15 and he is "seven years older". Even if the story picks up 10 years later than that, this still makes this something that starts as an adult/minor pairing... so her sexual desire for him... ew.

I found the pacing a little uneven as it takes a long time to set the scene: I was more than 100pp in before I felt this picking up steam or having much of a story- this is an issue throughout. While there are some nice minor twists in there I think this book mainly sets up the second one and does some basic world-building. Also some serious emotional gut-punch moments, so yeah, this one is not exactly uplifting. 

This is also not a romance, dark or otherwise. There is no romance in this book. Maybe the next? But if you're looking for dark romantasy spice... this ain't it.

Be aware that this ends in a cliffhanger. 
Spice level wasn't there for me - there is a lot of sexual content, but the way it's described doesn't really do much for me. Not that every book needs this, but in this one the sex is so often mixed with abuse or dubious (/absent) consent that it's not exactly something I can enjoy.

All in all, a dark but enticing read, though one that will might make you uncomfortable at times. I'll continue with the series and see how it goes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Rape, Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Misogyny, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: War

bon98's review against another edition

dark 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

The pacing of this book is awful. On the nose commentary on objectifying women (but ends up just being grossly misogynistic) and if I have to read the word C*nt one more time I’ll throw the book at the wall 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Cursing

tia_kieran's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

This bored and annoyed me to death.

= Then why the hell did I finish reading it?

Because I'm going through a major reading slump and nothing could hold my interest and I read it out of spite because a reviewer said it gets super better in the next book but honest to the reading gods, I'm not sure if I'll read the second book.

Seriously, the story is so bland and out of order. Nothing makes sense other than the constant misogyny. Not to mention that there's no CW about Harem. I was upset from the start. I let it slide because I didn't knew he was the ML or I'd have dropped it right there and then. He's such an ass. I don't get what other readers sees in him even if it's fiction. Girll! Chuck him outta the palace and your life like the Captain.

And the heroine... EWWW~~
There's one thing to be a doormat and I can somewhat tolerate them but to be a fucking shredded doormat??? I wanted to hurl the same book at her so many times. She's so damn annoying. I felt like I was reading about a major pick me girl who thinks with her pussy half of the time and other half with her ass. Jesus Christ!!! What's wrong with female characters these days??? I refuse to acknowledge such shitty things as characters. The writers have made the prostitutes and their profession a joke. Do they even do their homework before writing about such characters??? I'm so done with it. Just stop it. It just gets disgusting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia

clemway's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Kidnapping, Infidelity, and Death

alicelt's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Torture, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Rape, Alcohol, Body horror, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

aunessa's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

2.0

Such a disappointing book. It’s like you turn page after page and nothing happens!
I hate the vocabulary.

Spoiler

and I hate the fact that women are so badly weak and agrees with their treatment

I don’t know if I will read the next books, because I’m curious but also so disappointed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, and Physical abuse

Not for young readers. And don’t hesitate to close the book if you need to.

eleek0609's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Rape, and Murder

Moderate: Violence, Confinement, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Misogyny

Minor: War

midnacine's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Third time reading the series, first time listening to the audiobook. My initial review is somewhere on here. But can I just say the male narrator (Blake Lockhart) is absolute perfection. He only read one chapter and yet I'm in love with him. I can't wait to hear him as [redacted] in the later books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Sexual content, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Blood, Cursing, and Gaslighting

Minor: Trafficking, Animal death, War, and Death of parent

crieraylax's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Murder, Confinement, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Rape

jordanez's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

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

2.5

No plot in sight with this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Slavery, and Sexism

Minor: Pedophilia, War, Death, and Child abuse