Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

54 reviews

kal517's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Blood

Moderate: Confinement, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping

lauramcc7's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Classism

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Stalking, War

ladygetslit's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark 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

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Book 2 of the series got off to a somewhat slow start. I was trying to figure out what Lila was actually up to, and when the royal brothers were gonna get their angsty selves together. But once the plot started rolling, I was absolutely hooked. 

What I loved:

• Rhy and Kell’s brotherly shenanigans 
• Alucard is mysterious and slightly sexy (still waiting for the full backstory but I know it’s gonna kill me)
• Lila is such a boss babe: watching her discover her magic and take the world by a storm was everything I never knew I wanted 
• Setting up for the third book - I am so glad I already downloaded it 

What didn’t work for me:

• The pacing in the beginning - I didn’t know why Lila was on a ship and how things were going to tie back together… and I just wanted to get to the tournament already 
• The pseudo-slow burn between Lila and Kell is a hard pass. I don’t feel the chemistry, and I think they would’ve been better as friends. It felt like she threw in the romance because she was trying to draw That Audience, but the story would be perfectly fine without romance whatsoever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault

l3xi3's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Alcohol

fixxon's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Blood

Moderate: Confinement, Murder, Alcohol

Minor: Kidnapping

bessadams's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Blood

Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual harassment

barda's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder

Minor: Alcohol

msradiosilence's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Kidnapping, Grief

cowardlyteaman's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional tense

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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From a critical perspective, this book's plot wasn't really ... relevant to the progression of this series. The parts that were relevant were amazing, though, and to say that I didn't enjoy this book would've been a lie.

I am absolutely in love with this cast of characters, though?! Well, or Alucard, anyway. And Rhy as well, they're both amazing.

Although I think it was an interesting concept and helped exploring the cultures outside of Arnes, I just cannot see how the tournament was necessary at all. Neither Kell nor Lila really have a strong enough reason to compete. They're just competing to ... do something.
But then again, I did enjoy this book very much. I especially liked Kell and Alucard's dynamic. Kell doesn't seem to get along very well with anyone, really. Loving that for him.

I also enjoy Holland MUCH MORE as the villain ruler of White London than the Dane twins. I hated them, to be quite honest. Haha. They felt a bit too cliché evil™. Holland is more realistic, I think. He wants to restore his home to its former glory (and more), but has some questionable methods. I dunno, he's kinda like Hitler, but with less genocide and more sexy, if that's okay? I think we can agree that less genocide is a good thing.

To be honest, I can't remember all the warnings to put here.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Blood

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol