Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Gild by Raven Kennedy

192 reviews

michhxox's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

phlipsie's review against another edition

2.5

Awfully boring with lots of disgusting male characters. I doubled the audio speed to power through because the next ones are supposed to be significantly better. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, Slavery, Sexual content, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Alcoholism, Rape, and Trafficking

One giant content warning

lucien's review against another edition

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

0.25

Lack of decent character development with a plot that doesn't seem to go anywhere. Things just happen to the character but it incites no empathy. Sex scenes are just glanced over, not fantastic. The only detailed sex screen was the rape, which I'm not a fan of. No real goals from the main character and a little underwhelming in regards to her personality. Author's favorite phrases were "eyes as big as plates" and "on the bright side."

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Death, Rape, Trafficking, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

simpledifficulties's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Slavery, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

lobay's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Murder

Minor: Trafficking

kiah_rae's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I spent probably the first 40% of this book almost ready to not continue reading it. It did get more interesting and the added action and stressful situations made it a decent read. That said, there's a lot of toxic misogyny, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, and a main character that is difficult to not to want to scream at. I also think that her naivety and messed up view of people/herself & situation is sort of the point though, so if you decide to read this I'd say just be prepared to be a bit frustrated. I'm assuming the following books in the series will see some character growth and I look forward to it! 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

Minor: Child abuse and Trafficking

I'm not sure whether this labeled as YA, but based on the themes I would not recommend it to minors.

faerybookish's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Misogyny, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, War, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, and Sexual content

poempelnator's review against another edition

DNF 69%
I was straight up not having a good time.
I don't need fiction, if I wanna read about women being degraded and humiliated.

I didn't wanna judge too soon so I watched a summary/recap of the next two books so I can assume - it does not get better.
Even if you'd say "oh but it's dark fantasy so you're just weak" I think it's not well written. It's not intriguing. I don't care for the characters. I wasn't entertained.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Bullying, and Sexual content

regent_ace's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I did enjoy this book and I really did liked the main character and found it easy to empathize with her plus I thought the world building was well done.

However this book is pretty intense and graphic in some parts where it kinda made me ask why the author added it especially the sexual assault being really graphic was unnecessary. 

As well as I found the way Midas treated Auren really gross and I do understand from what I heard is that he isnt the love interest so thank god cause if he was I would've definitely dropped the series due to me not wanting to read a toxic/abusive romance

I will continue on cause I overall did like the story and lots of reviews I've seen says that it only gets better. But I definitely agree that this book is not for everyone

Reread #1: Enjoyed it a lot more this read through but my opinion on the wayy too graphic SA and the over the top crudeness are still issues I have with the book

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, Trafficking, and Confinement

emi_em_em_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a fairly dark book and is not for the faint of heart. As I read this, I was often fearful for the main character and rooting for her as I turned every page. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexism, Trafficking, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content