Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

60 reviews

deskeepsreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-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

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Gaslighting

Moderate: Murder and Physical abuse

vermontsnowboarder's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-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

1.0

I've described this book to people before as pocket trash. You know it's terrible.

The writing isn't great. In terms of the plot, there are a lot of plotholes—things that don't really make sense, and once you start to pull at one, the entire thing unravels and doesn't make any sense. Armentrout needs a better editor. There are A LOT of unnecessary moments and words. The FMC has so many inner monologues that it's exhausting and pointless. Her views and random thoughts do not add to the story; they take away from it by bogging the reader down. 

The worldbuilding is lackluster. It's supposed to be grand and sweeping and yet, it's flat and blase. It's not just that things are waiting to be revealed; it's that there is a lack of description and connection to the world in which this story is set.

Another thing that really bothers me is the blatant racism. The FMC's "best friend" is a black woman named, I kid you not, Tawny. Are you ready for her role? She is the FMC's lady's maid. The MCC's best friend is a black man who can shift into a werewolf (wolven) named Kieran (which means black, in case you didn't know), who is bound to the MCC. So basically, both of them are servants. The main characters and those in power are all white. 

Want a book with loads of sexual assault? This book has it in spades. The MCC hides his identity and uses his false one to get close to the FMC, proceeds to seduce her, take her virginity, and then gaslight her by telling her that it was "real". He knew full well that she never ever would have gone near him if she had known who he really was. After he takes her virginity, he continues invading her space and touching her despite her telling him no several times. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Racism

Moderate: Child death, Blood, Torture, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Confinement, Violence, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Child abuse and Alcohol

taobooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Blood, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Gore

Moderate: Violence and Torture

Minor: Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault

kthias's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

3.25

I enjoyed the plot but there are some non-consensual aspects of the romantic relationship that was very uncomfortable.  I like that the main character is portrayed as strong and can take care of herself but she's also not very smart and trusts very easily.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

jennipea382's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Gaslighting, Torture, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Confinement, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and War

coris_bookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Gore, and Death of parent

Minor: Gaslighting

amyj455's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Gaslighting

gcjay1994's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

Didn’t dislike it as much as I thought I would. It was enjoyable in some parts, some it’s just eh. Some spicy scenes, but I’m also not one for books that hang their hat on just having spicy material to get people to read. I think the plot will be more prevalent in the next one? Interested enough to listen to book 2, not sure on the whole series yet. We’ll have to see!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Drug use, Mental illness, Confinement, Physical abuse, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

ciara_donohue's review against another edition

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Torture, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Gaslighting

cdoubet's review

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Genocide, Bullying, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Physical abuse, Addiction, Death, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Medical content

Minor: Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury