alicelt's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Torture, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Rape, Alcohol, Body horror, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
eleek0609's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Rape, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Confinement, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Misogyny
Minor: War
micaelamariem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, War, Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Alcohol, Classism, Murder, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Infertility, Colonisation, and Death of parent
katvou's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol and Slavery
Minor: Bullying, Grief, Animal death, Vomit, Excrement, War, Blood, and Gore
deredere_dukes_and_dragons's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
I will not diminish the terrible things that are done and said in this book (see content warnings), but this is meant to be a dark story. And, quite frankly, the book did it's job: it made me want to at least read the next installment in the series.
However, this is not a fantasy romance, at least not this first book. The main character, Auren, is in a toxic relationship, blindly devoted to (and in love with?) her King.
In my mind, this could be considered more of a prequel; there's a lot that happens, but there's no real resolution. The last chapter begs for you to dive into the next book.
Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol
extinctpanda's review against another edition
Spoiler
it literally opens with an orgy where the king is fucking his harem, where the women are called saddles. I think that pretty much sums it upGraphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Alcohol, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse and Trafficking
fozlandgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Gore
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
xlaurareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Blood, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Death, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
watsontheslytherin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Classism, Bullying, and Alcohol
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.25
I’ve heard so many great things about this series from friends and strangers alike. As the fourth book was just released, a bookish friend threatened to end our friendship upon learning I hadn’t read it, and I’d just finished a book that didn’t meet my expectations—I decided there wasn’t a more perfect time to start diving into this series and world.
As the way of many adult fantasies, this book has some heavy, very adult, topics within its pages. Though many talk about this series as romantic, this first book is definitely not that. I’m told at some point there will be an element of romance but currently, it’s an adult fantasy with some mystery, court politics, and political manipulation at play.
The narrative of this book is primarily through the eyes of Auren, a gold-touched trophy of King Midas. Their relationship seems to be a mix of transference/nightingale syndrome, grooming, and some Stockholm syndrome.
Rescued, at the tender age of 15, by Midas [who’s 7 years older than her, which wouldn’t be bad if she was idk at least 20 but 15 and 22…just no], Auren has always seen him as her knight in shining armor. She has been with him for 10 years, with no friendships or attachments other than him, and she loves him unconditionally. Kept within a cage—does it expand throughout the entire castle? Yes, but that’s not the point—Auren fails to see that she’s only a prop for Midas, a special tool he uses when he wishes.
I’m thrilled that, although a bit of a spoiler, many have already assured me that Midas will not be the actual love interest in this series. The way he treats her like a special pet, or trophy, taken out at his whim to impress others made me just really want to punch him right in his smug face.
Though naive, when it comes to Midas and court politics, I’m excited to see Auren’s journey of finding her own strength and starting to change the direction of her life. Auren has had a difficult life and just wants to have friendship and love…and I hope that as the series continues we’re able to see both of those things for her.
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Trafficking, Blood, Gore, Violence, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Infertility and War