Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Dukes of Ruin by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue

9 reviews

hilary89's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

God, this series has me in a chokehold. I didn't find this first book in the Duke's trilogy to be any darker than the Lord's books, but it definitely had a lot more in the way of political intrigue and worldbuilding. Though I did find it harder to read about Lavinia's circumstances in comparison to Story's as Lavinia has be stripped of any and all agency and is at the complete mercy of the men around her. Considering what she's gone through, I can anticipate a revenge arc in the future and am looking forward to it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Blood, and Gaslighting

Minor: Drug use, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Classism

readsbykirby's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

**Review of *Dukes of Ruin* by Angel Lawson and Samantha Rue**

Holy mother of WTF did I just read?! *Dukes of Ruin* is an electrifying plunge into a world where dark secrets, complex characters, and twisted relationships reign supreme. This gripping tale introduces us to the Bruins: Pretty Nick, the narcissistic and obsessive brother; Simon, the adorably awkward “horny virgin” with a unique reason; and Remy, their troubled friend grappling with mental health and addiction. The narrative is anything but ordinary—a cocktail of laughter and shock that leaves you bewildered yet craving more.

At the heart of this story is Lavinia Lucia, the formidable daughter of the King of Counts, sold into a world dominated by power and manipulation. The richness of royal history intertwined with the sinister undertones of the Bruins' lives paints a vivid picture that's both thrilling and darkly alluring. This is not your average romance; it's a ride through a twisted labyrinth of emotions and consequences.

Lawson and Rue have outdone themselves with *Dukes of Ruin*. With each turn of the page, the tension escalates, leaving readers desperate for answers. How will Nick earn forgiveness? What truth lies within Tate's story? The anticipation is unbearable, and the only thing I’m certain of is that I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment. If you’re ready to dive into a world where nothing is as it seems and characters are beautifully flawed, then grab a copy of *Dukes of Ruin*. You won't regret it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

These books are a fast paced slow burn! So many different things going on at once but it all flows and works together to make one badass story! HIGHLY recommend to read them in order so you do not miss any of the back stories that are being developed as the series moves along. These characters made me HATE them.....they made me FEEL for them.....they made me loathe them entirely UNTIL they made me fall hopelessly in love with them at the end of their story!

nineinchnails's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-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: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, and Trafficking

Minor: Animal cruelty, Suicide, and Blood

amberlinanderson's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

3.0

Let me start by saying that I LOVED the Lords trilogy, but the Dukes are not doing it for me. I’m big on believability when I read. I can’t identify with the “I hate you with every fiber in my being, but sometimes I can see how this would work” vibe. With that said, the last 5% of the book did intrigue me, so I’m going to give book 5 a try.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Death of parent

hq_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.5

This book is equal parts frustrating and captivating. I’m still deciding how I feel about the non-consensual element to the romance but I admit, I’m intrigued to see where it goes. I find Remy utterly lovable! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment

_ann_'s review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Slavery and Murder

_alyxo_'s review against another edition

dark medium-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: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide attempt

tanner's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Suicide attempt

zeaing's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

4.25

in comparison to the lords of forsyth series, i’d say these books are A LOT more dark from the get go. if you thought the lords were bad then the dukes are so much worse.

the dukes are a lot. nick both has this need to dominate and control every little thing to do with lavinia but also loves her free spirit that it confuses me at times. he loves her in this odd way that makes me both hate him and want to see more of their relationship progress. sy is sy. i’m not sure what i can say about him despite the fact that i think he’s absolutely mad, he hates lavinia and she sure as hell hates him but there’s something about the tension between them that is something else. in a room alone full of weapons i don’t know if they’d kill eachother or fuck eachother first. and remy, remy my baby. i love that man with my whole chest. he deserves so much better and i just loved to see him throughout the book. his relationship with lavinia was so oddly soft that i LIVED for the scenes with them both. seeing his come to a realisation about the dreams and everything coming together made sense but also put so many more questions into my head that i just can’t wait for the next two duke books.

lavinia is something else entirely. from her blue hair and aggressiveness to her motherly nature with archie (i swear if something happens to archie i don’t know what i’ll do), she was so different to what i’d expected. i like how despite her having her limits and knowing when enough was enough with her, she rarely failed to stick up for herself. she knew the impossible situation she was in but she still had a backbone and somehow survived. i can’t wait to see her (hopefully) get more freedom and learn to express herself so much more when she can.

lavinia and verity made the most unlikely duo, seeing the ‘royals tree’ kinda image at the beginning of the book made me imagine they’d hate each other but instead seeing their friendship (if we can call it that) made me smile. same with sarah and lavinia, seeing sarah practically give lavinia free reign with her sons makes me hope that sarah will become somewhat of a mother-figure for lavinia. i don’t know what to say about story and lavinia, i was definitely expecting them to have a different relationship but i understand that lavinia hasn’t learnt about the lords’ relationship with story and grown with them the way the reader has. ngl i’m hoping for some chapters in the next book with lavinia babysitting melody…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Forced institutionalization