Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent

18 reviews

_verena_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

I was hoping for a major revenge arc. What I got was not exactly what I was hoping for, but it was AMAZING.
I couldn't put this book down, and when I did, I picked it up again soon. It was like I was hypnotized. Carissa Broadbent is a FUCKING SORCERESS!

Book 2 confirmed this Series as one of my all time favorites! The emotions, the heartbreak, the character development!!! 😭😭 I'm just so into it and with them, every step of the way. It feels like I'm so involved in this.
What I'm trying to say:
WELL DONE CARISSA BROADBENT
(well done doesn't even do it justice though)
However: I'm about to soak up every other book this brilliant woman wrote. She definitely made it into the elite clique of my all time favorite authors.

Back to the book review:
⚠️ There will be SPOILERS ahead ⚠️
You've been warned! ⚠️

I'll start with the things I didn't like (yes there have been some, although they were far too minor to taint this 5 star review):
- the map: while it's beautifully illustrated and all - Whats the point of a map, when there many of the places are missing? Like for example Lahor! Why is it not on there?
- the use of "There she is" was just too much 🙄 #sorrynotsorry
-

Oraya asking to be granted the Coriatis Bond, with half dead Raihn. Why didn't she ask Nyaxia for him to survive/be healed? Plus: shouldn't that be a decision made by BOTH of them, I mean it's this super grand forever bond... And yes, he told her he loved her and she couldn't stand the thought of a world without him, but still...
The non-consensuality about this, is what doesn't sit right with me. Especially when Raihn always asks for her consent (which I LOVE about this series - don't worry, I'll talk about the spice in a minute), even when he senses her arousal, he still asks...

Now to what I LIKED aka a mix of thoughts and quotes:

- The Coriatis Bond: I'm not the biggest fan of the trope of fated bonds between people (although there are some well executed ones, looking at you ACOMAF). However, I love idea of a bond like that being created between two hearts, two souls, BY CHOICE. It just combines the best of both worlds: being bonded to the person you love more than anything, but by your free will

- This was the moment I realized, maybe they can be together:

... Oraya didn’t need to be saved. She just needed a soul beside her on the dark walk to her own potential...
(36% - Raihn)

- Oraya. ORAYA. just everything. Badass, kickass queen. That's all I'm gonna say, she's my girl 💪

- the spice is SO next level in this book, I can't 🥵🥵 and the mixed in heartbreak 😭 omg, please give me a paper bag to breathe into:

... “Let me make you the queen that you are. Let me guard your body, your soul, your heart. Let me spend the rest of my fucking pathetic life at your mercy. If I need to die, then let me do it by your hand. Please.”...

... “And for fuck’s sake, princess, I’m begging you, let me go to my knees for you.”...

... He worked at me like his singular purpose in life was to wring the most pleasure from my body...

... “I hate you,” I choked out. But the words weren’t an admonishment. They were weak, sad, bare.
They did not say, I hate you because you killed my father.
They said, I hate you because I let you hurt me.
I hate you because I grieved you.
I hate you because I don’t...

- Raihn: I wanted to see him dead after book 1. But the way Carissa (can I call you Carissa?🙏) weaved this love story so delicately from pain, heartbreak and hatred to desire, friendship and biggest love, was just amazing. So emotionally comprehendable and satisfying!

- In general: I love the (emotional) complexity of this series. It's not just black and white, it's all kind of shades of grey

- Vincent: I'm glad we got more of his (and by extension Orayas) back story. However, I still feel like something is... missing? I don't know, maybe I still need a POV Vincent book 🙏

- Jesmine: another character I'd like to have a standalone book, such a badass 💪🙏

I could write so much more about this, I highlighted so many quotes (which I usually don't do a lot), but I just want to go ahead and start the "Slaying the Vampire Conquer"...

One last quote aka one of the many definitions of True Love:

... A week without touching him, and I missed him. Months without his friendship, and I missed him.
It wasn’t about a week. It wasn’t even about sex...

Content Warnings

adelagx's review against another edition

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medium-paced

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

5.0

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erinkellyreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.25

Continuing from the first book in this duology, I am again conflicted in my review. I did get more about the gods and Vincent/Oraya's past, which is what I was looking for, but... this dragged. I just never felt the chemistry between Raihn & Oraya and so when they were fighting over what Raihn did (which - valid, girl, I don't know if I could be in the same room with him after that in the beginning) I wasn't super rooting for them to get back together. I found myself skimming pages to get to the good parts. The ending was, in some ways, expected and, in others, unsatisfying. Now the question becomes - do I do what I did to myself with the Hades/Persephone series and push to read the rest in this world to see if it gets better or do I cut my losses on this series? Time will tell.

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bestturnip's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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aubbywaubby's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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shadikb's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional 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

3.0

Dec 31, 2023
Going to come back to the story. Just need a break.

Update Jan 3, 2024.
I finally finished it.... Here is my review:

I was so waiting for the “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” moment and it never came....... I was disappointed but it was an okay read. The pace from the last book was lost. Became repetitive with the "There she is". It just didn't captivate me the first book.

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amoiseenko's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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headinthepages's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Gah! Ok I love this series. I need more and can’t wait for another FOUR books 😍

The pacing, scene setting and plot itself are brilliant and engaging in this. It didn’t feel like a longer book and I was riveted the whole way through.

I love the character development that continues from book 1 into book 2, I love these characters so much and hope I get to see them in the other books of the series!

If you love vampires, action & enemies to lovers then get reading!

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bzliz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

This was a great sequel though it was doing A Lot and probably could’ve been two books. The headway made by our main characters and their respective squads felt earned rather than extremely convenient. There’s also great spicy scenes (be warned of blood play because it’s vampires) and they don’t feel gratuitous.

Some dialogue felt clunky and heavy handed with reveals that shocked no one (re: Mische in the wedding party scene). The refusal/inability of Oraya and Raihn to discuss feelings went on for too long in my opinion and it was no longer serving a purpose by the time confessions were made. The buildup to the final battle was well done but

the additional human army was pretty damn convenient and also apparently not a problem for vampires who have always had trouble holding themselves back from human blood.

Overall I’m glad I read this and I’m interested in reading more from this author in the future. Mind the content warnings!

Content warnings:
Blood, body horror, death, gore, injury, murder, violence, fire injury (on page):

Vampire battles that get pretty gruesome. If you cannot handle lots of serious injuries with characters on the brink of death, this isn’t the book for you. Blood is also shared in sexual encounters.

Grief (on page):

Oraya must grapple with her father’s death at Raihn’s hands and is also overtaken by his memory at points in time. She has complicated feelings about him because he was her father but he also shielded her from the truth about many topics for his own continued benefit.

Sexual content (on page):

Oraya and Raihn share a few intimate scenes ranging from sweet and loving to down and dirty. They are explicit but not vulgar.

Emotional abuse, domestic violence, physical abuse: (off & on page):

Raihn and probably everyone under former King Neculai’s rule suffered greatly. Much of the violence was implied through mentions of bruises and trauma. Raihn still suffers residual emotional trauma through exposure to Neculai’s cousin and the nobles looking down on him for the dehumanizing events they participated in at his expense.

Alcohol (on page):

Alcohol is specifically used as a tactic to get information out of Oraya’s cousin Evelaena about her father and his violent rise to power.

Child death (off page):

Evelaena relays the story of Vincent’s ascent to power by killing his family including the children which she survived by chance.

Death of parent (off page):

Vincent was killed in the previous book and Oraya spends most of the book dealing with the aftermath of that event.

Infidelity (off page):

Vampires don’t seem to adhere to bonds of fidelity but Raihn specifically had an affair with Queen Nessanyn as they were both victims of King Neculai’s violent tendencies. I mention this because of the emotional bond forged there and because it was significant in shaping Raihn’s life.

Rape, sexual assault (off page):

It is strongly implied Raihn was regularly sexually abused by Neculai and his court/nobles. Oraya’s first sexual encounter is mentioned again which began consensually and turned into rape (her explicit words say this). The experience is not rehashed in this book but is referenced a few times.

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spicycronereads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Ix’s tits! I loved this book. Oraya’s emotional journey dealing with the events of book 1 and the ongoing revelations in this book was complex and sad and beautiful. The reckoning with the contradictions of someone she thought she knew was hauntingly familiar. The action was well paced and the spicy scenes were…well, spicy. But also lovely in their evolution. Really enjoyed this book on many levels - plot, language, tone, character development. I will definitely be adding more from Carissa Broadbent to my TBR list.

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