Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Gothikana by RuNyx

24 reviews

prairierose's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

atlas_lostlove1993's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.5

This was a complex gothic romance and while I didn’t love Vad, Corvina was an interesting character who grew from naive, insecure girl to confident woman who came to appreciate her mental conditions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

cinderellasbookshelf's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.5

I can see the appeal, but this just isn’t for me.

The story itself has a lot of potential and could have been better with some editing on the pacing and story development. The writing is good, but gets bogged down for being too repetitive (the number of times Corvina says god). The declarations of love said between Corvina and Vad also start to become overly exaggerated when it’s meant to be heavy and emotional. I did though like the descriptions of Verenmore and can see it coming straight out of a Gothic novel.

My main problem though, and this is just a me-thing, is that I couldn’t connect with the book. I like the premise and the mystery behind this secluded university, the history of deaths attached to it, and a girl with purple eyes who falls for an enigmatic student/teacher — but something is missing. That’s why I think I’m probably the wrong audience for this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Violence and Murder

addi_grimes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

biancaneve5's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

amaranth_wytch's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Child death, Rape, Suicide, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

isabelh0410's review against another edition

challenging fast-paced

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

0.25

Save yourself. Do not read this. It reads like poorly written self-insert fanfiction. If you are looking for smut, I'm sure there is better out there. Everything about this book was problematic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

thelongroadtosanity's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

"This will last until the day roses on my grave stop sharing roots with the roses on yours,” he declared. “I will have you even in death, little witch. I am your beast. I am your madness. And you, you’re my afterlife."

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Despite the ending being mildly predictable and a bit anticlimactic, I really enjoyed this book. The author's writing style felt so immersive to the point where I felt like I was there at Verenmore University. I do feel like there may be another one in the future. 

Overall, this has spice in it, but I also wouldn't consider this to be a dark romance. It's more possessive romance than dark in my mind. I really did enjoy the Gothic and witchy vibes to this storyline however.

I wish more of the underlying mystery was revealed, but I am assuming it will be in the next book. (06/2024)

4 out of 5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Violence, and Murder

johnayismyname's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence

marinajonesreads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I got through it. Solid 2. The writing was at time pedantic and the plot lacked a lot of substance. I think we I saw “gothic romance” I was thinking along the lines of Adalyn Grace’s “Foxglove” — a slow burn, out of time, dark romance. This was dark. I will give it that. I would strongly advise one check the content warnings before reading. But the ending just lacked so much. It kind of was just there. I felt like we’d been building to something supernatural or even just unexpected. But we instead get a Scooby Do-esq storyline. And I was still left with so many questions. And not in a fun way. This felt, at times, like one big spicy book with words around it in the vague wispy form of a plot. Ironic, I know. Would I recommend? Probably not.

But I will say, the cover, binding and sprayed purple edges are beautiful. The purple and black is such a solid choice. Love the Verenmore gold foil. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Incest, Blood, and Death of parent