Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Lady of Darkness

Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Lady of Darkness by Melissa K. Roehrich

18 reviews

captkaroi's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I don't care for the female lead too much, but I enjoy the rest of the characters.

I do absolutely love the portrayal of trauma and panic/anxiety attacks. I had to pace myself because it triggered my anxiety, and to me that makes it excellent writing.

it doesn't feel realistic that you have these super stealthy characters doing amazing feats one minute then happenly captured in the next? Hoping the next book helps explain it.

Content Warnings

jess7070's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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: Complicated

Good storyline, strong character development. Scarlett is a good FMC with an interesting past. The weaving of past to present is very well done. And though the 'plot twist' is obvious, I think it's supposed to be that way. There is one small plot twist that I didn't see coming and was very well done!
I like how the 'goodies' are morally grey, not all actually 'good'. Keeps things interesting.

Read this within 24 hours, and I'm immediately on to book two.
100% would read again in a few years.

Content Warnings

maggies's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I think I was distracted by the narration because it was so much more dramatic than I would have read it in my head. If I continue the series, I'll have to remember to read it instead of listen, I think. I'm not totally sure I enjoyed it, but I do want to know what happens to the characters, so...

Content Warnings

bangiebangs's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Really enjoyed this book even if it didn't make me stay up all night to read on. That's not to say it's boring, but there may be some slight pacing issues at times. I find it hard sometimes to stick with Scarlett sometimes, probably because she reminds me of ToG's Aelin a lot - and I didn't like her. She is also an assassin, also adopted by the Assassin Lord as a child, also has foggy memories of a mother that may have been more than human, etc. Lives in a place where magic is not working. Let's just say, if you liked ToG, you'll also like this.

I'm much more interested in the MMC. I find that the big reveals here are somewhat obvious early on

like that he is the Fire Prince; I thought that one was so clear to start with... I did like the twist about him being her target, even if not terribly surprising at the point where it's revealed.

.

What I didn't like are the secrets upon secrets, and the complaints about them... again, reminded me of Aelin, and I'm not a huge fan. I feel like the MFC feels really young and somewhat immature against the MMC. I do appreciate the treatment of trauma here, though.

The way that her shutting down is often portrayed, esp between books 1 and 2 is pretty intense...

.

And finally, the world-building is really good here, loads going on, but revealed - for the most part - in a way that makes you want to learn more. The only complaint here is the use of "better not call her" without any hint who she might be. I find that annoying.

All that said, heed the CNs, this gets dark. But it's good, and I'm already reading the next book!

Content Warnings

dovahkiin_shea's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

samantha_ellen's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Where to start with this review… I have definitely seen both sides - some obsessed with this series & devouring it whole, others finding the FMC annoying, angry & bratty (side note, I hate the word bratty for an FMC 😅)

So when I started this for my bookclub I was going in with a really open mind.

I personally love a bit of feminine rage & it being a completed 5 book romantic fantasy series… I was excited 🙌🏽

I did a mix on audio & kindle for this book, & I did notice quite a few continuity errors which would be easy fixes. I found the major plot points pretty predictable (but this could be me feeling saturated in this genre, as I’m finding this with NA Romantasy books as a whole)

Ultimately the choices the author made with what information we were freely given & what was being held back to be exposed later was interesting to me. Why is all this big stuff being told but this story of Scarlett’s past hidden from view?! It definitely make me want to read on, while also making me feel like I knew everything already?! There were some really impactful emotional moments, that were really heartbreaking, but then times where I was just questioning why things were happening or how certain magic works.

One thing I really loved was the exploration of trauma through the eyes of a strong & capable FMC, who has had men making decisions for her, her whole life & how she was compartmentalising it all in order to ‘survive’

When Scarlett goes numb & quiet & retreats into herself when the world is too loud… Ugh I loved that. When it all got to much & her anger took over FUCK YES! I was SO there for that! Tbh once all the truth came out about what had been through, I don’t think she was angry enough!!!

I didn’t feel a whole lot of chemistry between the 2 love interests until the last 20% - but once it was there I got SUPER invested.

I love where it ended & I am still very excited to continue with the series to see where this all goes. It did very much feel like just the beginning of her story.

Content Warnings

jenniday's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I can see why some readers would hate Scarlett but I kinda love her. She is a traumatized badass who essentially disassociates regularly. The relationships in the story were great—it was nice to see a strong platonic relationship. Sorin pissed me off a few times but I guess that’s just male behavior (sigh).

Lady of Darkness was a bit predictable and heavily borrows themes from other popular fantasy novels, but I don’t care. It was a lot of fun and I found myself invested in the story. It could also benefit from being edited again. Off to read book 2!

Content Warnings

terra_locher's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

Content Warnings

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