Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

320 reviews

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Vampires are back with a bang in this breathtakingly pacy and deliciously addictive fantasy from Carissa Broadbent. Blending heart-stopping action and slow burn romance with a plot twisty, Hunger Games style premise that had me utterly HOOKED! 

The world-building was (to paraphrase Mary Poppins) practically perfect: vividly descriptive without slowing down the plot with unnecessary exposition, but also not too fast that the story (or our characters’ progression) feels rushed either— an impressive feat that even the most well established authors often struggle with. 

But not Broadbent, who navigates her way through intricately woven character arcs and shocking plot twists like a literary Machiavelli; pulling strings and stealing hearts with her evocative prose. 

I’m also happen to be a sucker for well written characters so loved the attention to detail (and three dimensionality) we see in protagonists Oraya and Raihn as they navigate the complex and brutal vampire hierarchy, it’s never ending power struggles and life-threatening court intrigues. 

As a human raised by a Vampire King (after the death and destruction of her entire village), Oraya has learned to survive in a world that only sees her as prey. So exploring her compelling & resilient journey, alongside the scorchingly intense attraction building between her and rival contestant Raihn was marvellous! 

The enemies turned reluctant allies were both in depth and engaging characters who, surprisingly, have waay more in common than I first thought. But I also loved some of the supporting cast too, particularly Mische, whose perky, sunshine-y demeanour had me rooting for them every step of the way too! 

I don’t want to spoil anything (particularly Raihn’s heartfelt disclosure of his past) so all I will say is that I enjoyed getting to explore both of their poignant backstories, flaws and conflicted inner feelings - as they attempt to fight their way to victory.

Overall, an enthrallingly intense, vampire centric Romantasy that fans of Hunger Games, True Blood or Buffy The Vampire Slayer should definitely consider checking out. 

And also, a huge thank you to Pan MacMillan and Bookbreak for the stunning PB copy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Torture

Minor: Slavery, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Self harm

kayleames's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Blood, and Gaslighting

mj_86's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Death of parent and War

jonghyun4life's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-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

Loved the characters in this book. It was also very well written with call backs from previous chapters. Everything tied in nicely. Ultimate betrayal and it was insanely done. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Violence

Moderate: War and Genocide

Minor: Rape, Torture, and Slavery

andieobrien99's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this book!! 
I think this could be the first fantasy book where I actually liked pretty much majority of the characters! 

It’s definitely a fantasy book in every sense of the word. Vampires, Humans, Magic. The story kept you intrigued and it kept you wanting more. I don’t know how many nights I ended up staying awake because I didn’t want to put it down! 

I loved Mische, Oraya, Raihn, Vincent etc. 
I’m excited to read book 2! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Rape, Murder, Death of parent, Violence, and Blood

dani_365's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Child abuse, Confinement, War, Murder, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Torture

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, War, Blood, Death, Murder, Rape, Genocide, Slavery, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Grief, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Sexual content

juliesleseecke's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Torture, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Self harm, Sexual assault, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol

cableknitsweater's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Good old fashioned vampire Hugh fantasy with a side of unhinged FMC that really worked for me.

If you enjoy fantasy plot lines about female characters growing up thinking they have to be the perfect weapon to be taken seriously, you will enjoy this book. Definite Jude vibes (FotA series).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Cursing, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Sexual content, War, Rape, Murder, Slavery, Sexual assault, Torture, and Racism

devilnumber04's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

2.5

if that one line wasn’t included then it would have a much higher rating 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Death