Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
230 reviews
susiemarie1111's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
I'm not in love with the competition trope (Throne of Glass, Hunger Games, etc.) but I am in love with this story. While I was a touch exasperated with Oraya at times, I think that's because I've read a lot of characters like her before. At the end of the day, the romantic tension, competition tension, and the complex father-daughter relationship had me on the edge of my seat. I saw this recommended to ACOTAR fans, I don't know if I necessarily agree with the implication that they are similar in story structure. However, it is similar in addictiveness!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Violence, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence
time4tori2read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent brought me back to fantasy after being on hiatus from the genre because of SJM. Broadbent's writing and character development lived up to the hype, and I enjoyed every minute of the book. I do wish some characters were given more page time, and from what I hear, Broadbent is writing stories just for those characters which I'm excited to dive into. The pacing, dialogue, and characters were all well-developed, and I found the challenges exciting. I enjoyed that the reader was not inundated with world-building prose and that it developed naturally to help me frame the characters in their world without distracting me from it. I hope the next book gives us a little more ambience and world building to fully understand it.
I would like it moving forward if there could be a content warning at the start of the book and also if the glossary of terms could be mentioned in a table of contents or beginning author's note so that readers would know to easily reference it. I LOVEEEEE that Broadbent did this, and I think that more fantasy authors should take a page out of her book as it helped reorient me and clarify any of my confusion (without me having to page through previous chapters).
I would like it moving forward if there could be a content warning at the start of the book and also if the glossary of terms could be mentioned in a table of contents or beginning author's note so that readers would know to easily reference it. I LOVEEEEE that Broadbent did this, and I think that more fantasy authors should take a page out of her book as it helped reorient me and clarify any of my confusion (without me having to page through previous chapters).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
cayleybp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexual content
jvbook_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Sexual content
Moderate: Body horror
livwestland's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
littletiramisu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Gore, Murder, Blood, and Cursing
jessversteeg's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
3.0
Fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Vampires are back with a bang in this breathtakingly pacy and deliciously addictive fantasy from Carissa Broadbent. Blending heart-stopping action and slow burn romance with a plot twisty, Hunger Games style premise that had me utterly HOOKED!
The world-building was (to paraphrase Mary Poppins) practically perfect: vividly descriptive without slowing down the plot with unnecessary exposition, but also not too fast that the story (or our characters’ progression) feels rushed either— an impressive feat that even the most well established authors often struggle with.
But not Broadbent, who navigates her way through intricately woven character arcs and shocking plot twists like a literary Machiavelli; pulling strings and stealing hearts with her evocative prose.
I’m also happen to be a sucker for well written characters so loved the attention to detail (and three dimensionality) we see in protagonists Oraya and Raihn as they navigate the complex and brutal vampire hierarchy, it’s never ending power struggles and life-threatening court intrigues.
As a human raised by a Vampire King (after the death and destruction of her entire village), Oraya has learned to survive in a world that only sees her as prey. So exploring her compelling & resilient journey, alongside the scorchingly intense attraction building between her and rival contestant Raihn was marvellous!
The enemies turned reluctant allies were both in depth and engaging characters who, surprisingly, have waay more in common than I first thought. But I also loved some of the supporting cast too, particularly Mische, whose perky, sunshine-y demeanour had me rooting for them every step of the way too!
I don’t want to spoil anything (particularly Raihn’s heartfelt disclosure of his past) so all I will say is that I enjoyed getting to explore both of their poignant backstories, flaws and conflicted inner feelings - as they attempt to fight their way to victory.
Overall, an enthrallingly intense, vampire centric Romantasy that fans of Hunger Games, True Blood or Buffy The Vampire Slayer should definitely consider checking out.
And also, a huge thank you to Pan MacMillan and Bookbreak for the stunning PB copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Torture
Minor: Slavery, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Self harm
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Gore, Body horror, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Ableism, Slavery, War, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Confinement, Grief, Self harm, and Child death
rasha_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Absolutely fantastic!
After reading ACOTAR (for the second time) I started actively reading through my TBR looking for a tale that would absorb me in the same way. The Plated Prisoner series came close but this one blew me away.
Fair warning: this is not a tale for the feint of heart. It is dark and challenging to read but Carissa Broadbent has done a superb job of bringing this world to life in a way that is still emotionally relevant even when dealing with all the death, loss and violence. After all, this is a vampire fantasy tale stripped back to its bloody roots unlike some modern retellings which have glossed over the gore.
As for spice, the enemies-to-lovers trope is in full force with the romantic spice being present but not overwhelming. In the best tradition of great storytelling, the spice is a part of the story as opposed to being the point as with many authors in the romantasy genre. The relationship between Oray and Raihn is also very well handled and there are some twists along the way leaving you to wonder what happens next.
I loved this book and can’t wait to read the next instalment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Gore, Sexual content, and Violence