Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

121 reviews

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. 

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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

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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.

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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

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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

selestre's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Body shaming

Minor: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Child death, Death of parent, Medical content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

razalicious's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

leahhope_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

I was not prepared for the plot twist

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Blood

eloharay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.75

Great story, and it was fun to come up with theories on what was going on throughout the book. Slow burn romance that turned inferno. The author did a great job of tying up lose ends and questions I had throughout the book in the last 1/4 while still keeping it interesting.  No cliffhanger, but created enough interest in finding out what happens next for me to immediately want to pick up the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Sexual content

Moderate: Misogyny, Classism, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent

courtneylmal's review

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent, Body shaming, Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Child death

luna_lovelace's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

I am at a loss for words about where to begin with this book because it has left me in utter awe. The plot development is so intricate that I couldn't help but get lost in the story. The author throws a lot of information at you, but as the story progresses, the pace picks up, and the story becomes more engaging. 

There are also a lot of crumbs throughout the book which gave me an idea of what would happen next. Although some aspects of the story were predictable, I found it satisfying when I guessed correctly! There were also moments when I was caught off guard by unexpected twists and turns,

such as the murders of some of the most likable characters.

It is a slow-burning romance, making it all the more satisfying when the characters finally come together. The author has also thrown in an enemies-to-lovers plot, adding an extra layer of complexity to the romance.

Poppy, is a force to be reckoned with. She is charming, strong-willed, and knows her way around a dagger! I found myself becoming more and more invested in her story as the book progressed. I could see why Hawke falls for her, despite his rough exterior. Hawke is a gray character and complex

with a heartbreaking backstory that explains his motivation to save his brother.

Reading this book was an emotional rollercoaster, and I cannot wait to read the next one! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Sexual content, Death, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Cursing, and Child death

Minor: Forced institutionalization