Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Wicked King by Holly Black

18 reviews

orakuruno's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

Now this is an enemies to lovers

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, War, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Blood, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Drug use, Bullying, Violence, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Gore

Minor: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Trafficking, Torture, and Slavery

2blueshoes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

After a first book so mind bogglingly horrifying, I surprised myself by truly enjoying this sequel. The Cruel Prince felt like a sort of nightmarish junior high, where love isn’t real, everyone is miserable, and no one wins. The Wicked King felt a bit like high school, with characters finding their footing, and forging real relationships - and of course the stakes are much higher. 

Yes, the FMC is still deeply un relatable to me, and her choices made me want to pull my hair out in frustration. 

Yes, all of the characters continue to operate so far beyond morally grey areas they are all difficult to root for. 

And yet, somehow in the midst of the ever-more-complicated political schemes and endless list of confusing character names… I found myself loving this story. The plot twists were plentiful and intelligently written (I guessed exactly one). There was such steep character development that the FMC and MMC became entirely different people. There was relationship angst, but it was elegant rather than despicable. There was exactly one spicy scene and it was fade to black. The MMC’s tail wasn’t mentioned, praise be. 

 If you don’t care much for back story or world building, read a synopsis of book one and jump to book two. It will absolutely have you on the edge of your seat - or in my case - yelling “OMG” loudly in the car. 

I will immediately read book three. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Torture

Minor: Bullying, Gore, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Vomit, War, Death of parent, Medical content, Slavery, and Suicide

ejreadz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Kidnapping

kymboh78's review against another edition

dark slow-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? It's complicated

2.5

Full review coming soon 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Misogyny, Death, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug use

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Trafficking, Murder, Gore, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Drug use, Deportation, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, War, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Body shaming, Blood, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Torture, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Violence, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders

eule's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

Definitely more romance going on in this book (love it and I know this is a YA book, but I would love a little more details, because those particular scenes have so much potential). Cardan somehow became surprisingly enjoyable as well as their relationship. Additionally, the plot is way better in comparison to the first book. Highly recommend this series for any YA reader (it was a little to innocent and childish for my spicy taste). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Sexual content

theintrovertsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Drug abuse, Death, Confinement, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, War, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Animal death, and Slavery

Minor: Infertility, Incest, Grief, Child abuse, and Bullying

culzean's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Torture, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, War, Kidnapping, Classism, Vomit, Death of parent, Gore, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Death

eliza_book_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

# ⛰ What It's About

Now that Cardan is King, many challenges arise that threaten his reign and Jude’s plans. Jude may have met her match…

# 🔍 How I Discovered It

As I enjoyed the first book, I decided to continue the series. 

# 🧠 Thoughts

- Wow. The plot twist in this book really threw me. I wanted to cry and scream at the same time! So well crafted with intricate plots of betrayal and devious plans. So amazing! 5 stars!

## What I Liked About It

- The intense plot twist in this book.
- The constant slow burn/longing that Holly Black creates for the readers to ship Jude & Cardan.
- Intricately clever and thorough plots.

## What I Didn't Like About It

- Would love a little more spice but honestly, this is just a preference. The book has parts that get pretty hot, then fade to black.

# 🥰 Who Would Like It?

- People who like intricate plots with insane twists that make you want to scream.
- Those who like very intelligent, devious, and morally grey characters.
- If you want to read a fantasy book that isn’t predictable and has in-depth characters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Slavery

Minor: Sexual content

alisainwonderland's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Torture

Moderate: Slavery