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A review by brucethegirl
Broken Knight by L.J. Shen
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
On one hand- this is terribly written. There’s no sense of an actual plot. There’s misunderstandings that make no sense for the sake of misunderstanding. There’s terrible ableism and victim blaming.
LiterallyLuna is hurt and thinks knight forced a blowjob. NOT REALIZING she signed her consent to him??? That’s actual two page dilemma that happens.
Too often in the beginning Knight FORCES Luna to talk, there is no concern about the mental state she's in to do so. He and his idiot friends- all teenagers, without training or physiological degrees- think it's high time she talks, so therefore she should. So they hold her hands and try to make her talk. This was such a triggering scene. And the worst, is this is all portrayed as Luna just "taking too long" to bite the bullet and use her voice. There's an air of "what an ass." but its also a very strong "This is the tough love she needs." Yea no. I need Shen to take at least one course of basic compassion. Let alone disability rights.
On the other hand - think I wasn’t sobbing, when Rosie was dying/died whole tears falling down my cheek at certain scenes. I also finished the whole book, and I do not hesitate to dnf.
The official rating is a 2.5. I would have given this a 1 based on the negative issues I have with it, but I kept wanting to read more (so I added a star) and another half star for pulling that strong emotion out of me when I rarely cry for books.
Would I pay actual money for this book? No. Would I get it free on kindle? Yea sure why not.
Literally
Too often in the beginning Knight FORCES Luna to talk, there is no concern about the mental state she's in to do so. He and his idiot friends- all teenagers, without training or physiological degrees- think it's high time she talks, so therefore she should. So they hold her hands and try to make her talk. This was such a triggering scene. And the worst, is this is all portrayed as Luna just "taking too long" to bite the bullet and use her voice. There's an air of "what an ass." but its also a very strong "This is the tough love she needs." Yea no. I need Shen to take at least one course of basic compassion. Let alone disability rights.
On the other hand - think I wasn’t sobbing,
The official rating is a 2.5. I would have given this a 1 based on the negative issues I have with it, but I kept wanting to read more (so I added a star) and another half star for pulling that strong emotion out of me when I rarely cry for books.
Would I pay actual money for this book? No. Would I get it free on kindle? Yea sure why not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, and Stalking