Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

5 reviews

tiana_king's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Every book I think Richelle Mead can’t top the last one’s ending and every time I’m wrong. Buckle in for plenty of breaking and entering, high stakes, STAKES, and more spirit.
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tiana_king's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark 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? It's complicated

5.0

Every book I think Richelle Mead can’t top the last one’s ending and every time I’m wrong. Buckle in for plenty of breaking and entering, high stakes, STAKES, and more spirit.
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madeleineelr's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

i hate hate HATE that there is so much going on in this book. the beauty of the previous instalments was that every book had one main goal that was built up to. this was just all over the place. 

side note: i’m very much team adrian. and as much as i loved dimitri in shadow kiss, i wish they’d killed him <3
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noellelovesbooks's review

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adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Content Warnings: Sexual content, violence, death, murder, fire, fire injury, grief, classism, blood, adult minor relationship, and alcoholism. 

I forgot how much stuff is packed into this volume! Barely any downtime this book has action, mystery, secret missions...and so much more. 
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plumpaperbacks's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-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? No

5.0

[sixth read, June 2023]
I am currently torn between Rose and Adrian have the potential to be a really cute couple (in an AU, obviously) and Rose and Adrian are actually kind of an unhealthy couple. I’ve always had that first thought, and it’s come back to me with each reread; the second, on the other hand, is something I’ve only just realized this time around. ‘Cause, you know, the brainrot gets worse every time, and I spend ~a lot~ of time thinking about these books. But yeah, between her grief over Dimitri and his I’m addicted to you spiel, they’re honestly a hot mess. I don’t wanna say outright that they’re toxic, because I think that’s too much of an exaggeration, but they’re definitely unhealthy.

Although, to be fair, my obsession with these books might also be unhealthy, so can I really say anything? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[fifth read, September 2022]
I have nothing new to say here. I’m running out of ways to say I’m in pain and Richelle Mead is cruel and I hate it here. It’s all true. Finishing this book and immediately starting the next one is a special kind of pain, but I did it anyway. Some might say I’m a masochist.

Also, it will never not be funny that, of all people, Adrian Ivashkov doesn’t carry condoms. If you know, you know. XD

[fourth read, August 2021]
Richelle Mead, STOP MESSING WITH MY HEART. Please and thank you.

I don’t ship Rose and Adrian, but my god, I love them. And that scene right before everything went to crap? Quality content.

You know what else is quality content? When Rose and Sydney are video chatting about the Vegas trip and Sydney sees Adrian on the surveillance footage and asks if he’s Rose’s boyfriend and very reluctantly admits that she finds him cute. Honey, you got a big storm coming. Give it a few months and he’ll be your boyfriend. I love the foreshadowing here. 😂

You know what’s NOT quality content? Rose and Dimitri’s relationship. Dimitri’s grief and guilt and the “‘Love fades. Mine has.’” nonsense. GET IT AWAY FROM ME. Also, sir, if your love has ‘faded,’ why were you so protective in the café?? HMM?? I SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU!!!

Anyway, I’m rambling. I love the characters. I hate the cliffhanger. I’m in pain, and it’s not from my recent brain surgery. But I still love this book. It’s my second favorite in the series, and the next one is my favorite. Onward!!! 🥲

[third read, June 2020]
One would think that, since I’ve already read this series twice, I would be prepared for the emotional onslaught. Maybe I wouldn’t be affected to quite the same degree. But that isn’t—and may not ever be—the case.

So help me, I’m in deep. I love these characters as much as Richelle Mead loves messing with them, and she really loves messing with them. Even though I’m fully aware of how the series ends, I just can’t handle this stress, these emotions.

Concluding thoughts:
1. That little scene with Dimitri and Jonathan is so wholesome and amusing. Possibly the best scene in the book.
2. Adrian deserves better. So much better. I lost count of how many times I was thinking he just needs to wait for Bloodlines. You’ll find your special someone soon, my boy. You’ll be happy and everything will be okay. (SO TRUEEE 🥺🥺)

[second read, August 2019]
It’s after one a.m. and Spirit Bound has rendered me speechless.

With each novel I reread, I become more aware that, while the series is not high quality by any means, it’s phenomenal regardless. If I was reading this series for the first time right now, I’m unsure if I’d enjoy it as thoroughly. I’m no longer desperate for every close friend and family member to read these books.* But in addition to being nostalgic, each installment is a wild ride. Mead has created a dramatic plot, an intricate world, and many dynamic characters that sneak up on your heart.

(*Past me is a liar lmao)

I stand by everything I said in my original review, and if I’m honest, I’m a bit proud of how articulate Past Liv was. Although, if I’m really being honest, I laughed at the fact that I a) compared the emotional turmoil of these books to that of a SJM book, and b) ranked this at #10 on my all-time favorite series list. In regards to the former, that’s not true. SJM can only aspire to mess with my head and heart the way Richelle Mead does. Fight me. As for the latter, well, I don’t know what I read in 2016 that I thought was better than this, but a more accurate ranking would be like #2. I’m trash for this series and I have no regrets. (2022 Liv: Good to know I eventually got my priorities straight. I might not be, but at least they are.)

Long story short, my heart is hurting, that cliffhanger is cruel, Richelle Mead is an evil genius, and I can’t decide if I love Dimitri Belikov or Adrian Ivashkov more. (The answer is both.)

I’m not ready for the last book but let’s go!!!

[first read, August-September 2016]
As I've been reading these books, I've realized that not only is each one better than the last, but each one is also ten times more heartbreaking than the previous installments. This book was no exception.

At this point, I've given up trying to figure out where Richelle will take the series next. I just keep speeding through the books and then proceeding to be completely shocked as the story goes in every direction except the one I expected and my heart is crushed. This, in my opinion, is what makes the series perfect for marathoning. I never have to worry about a lull in the plot, because these characters never get a break. The only thing I ever worry about with this series is getting the next book as soon as I possibly can. When this series is over, I legitimately won't know what to do with myself.

The story picks up almost right where the fourth book ended, and it was another absolutely wild ride. Strigoi weren't as big of an issue here, because certain events put more focus on the political intrigue and royal drama. It was still highly entertaining, though, and that's why, even with school, I read a nearly 500 page book in a couple of days. It was filled to the brim with secrets, grief, treason, suspense, intensity, a romance that destroyed me, and more.

If you haven't picked these books up yet, please do. It's the most unique vampire story I've ever read, and full of so many amazing things. If you're a fan of any of what I listed above, unbelievable plots, strong friendships, elemental magic, darkness, epic heroines, paranormal elements, and/or ANYTHING similar, give this a try. I thought it would be cliché too, but I picked up the first book on my fifteenth birthday on a whim, just to say I'd tried it, and look at me now. I'M OBSESSED, AND I HAVE NO REGRETS.

In previous books, readers have seen Rose at her best and at her worst. In this one, she was somewhere in between. Because while she remained the epic fighter, loyal best friend, dedicated guardian, and impulsive and sassy teenager we all know and love, she was also mentally at war with herself more than ever before. She blamed herself for so many recent events, and tried to justify her actions to herself and others even when it wasn't needed. On top of all that, she was grieving deeply while trying to be another guy's girlfriend. And of course, she just couldn't catch a break. But her perseverance through all of it is the cause of both her spot on my "favorite heroines ever" list and me wanting so badly to give her a hug.

The same can be said about Lissa. As the last of her royal line and a very special princess, she hasn't had it easy, either. But whereas before she was a fairly timid girl, in this one, she finally came out of her shell and became epic in her own way. She did one thing in particular that I really wasn't expecting, and it made me see her in a whole new light. I also gained a ton of respect for her.

I can't really safely say anything about other characters, but just know I still love them to pieces and one in particular really broke my heart in this book. If you've read this series, my reviews for past books, or even my Goodreads updates, you can guess who. Also, I really like Adrian.

While the setting didn't vary nearly as much as it did in the fourth book, Rose and company do stray from the safety of the Academy in Montana. In the beginning there are brief visits to Alaska and Las Vegas, respectively, but the brunt of the story takes place in the Royal Court in Pennsylvania. I loved the vastly differing descriptions of all of these places, especially those owned or occupied by Moroi; the mix of medieval and modern design seemed fascinating to me. Richelle's writing style made all the locations incredibly easy to imagine, and that was one more reason for me to just fly through this book.

The relationships are definitely what get to me the most in this series. I absolutely love Rose and Lissa's friendship, and how they always understand and help each other. They make my heart happy, and then Rose and Dimitri turn around and break it again. The two of them deserve to be happy, and I really hope their ending is. They've already destroyed my heart, and if they're not happy together I'm not sure I'll recover. They're just written so well, and no matter how great Rose's bond with Lissa (and Adrian, respectively) is, it can't compare. If you like having your heart messed with the way you would in a Sarah J. Maas or Cassandra Clare book, read this series. It does the job just as well. (2022 Liv: SJM and CC WISH they wrote angst this well. Richelle Mead supremacy.)

Honestly, the middle chunk and ending of this book make the others pale in comparison. I didn't think I'd be saying that after the end of the fourth book, but as I've said repeatedly, this series never fails to surprise me. The stakes were higher and more addictive than ever. (No pun intended.) I would also just like to say that the ending IS NOT OKAY. It's easily one of the best/worst cliffhangers I've ever read, and for the past few hours I've been mentally slapping myself because I didn't go ahead and grab the last book when I was at the library. YOU DON'T JUST END A BOOK LIKE THAT. YOU JUST DON'T. *_*

All in all, if it wasn't clear already, I absolutely adored this book. The series as a whole as definitely taken over the #10 spot on my "all time favorite series" list, and I'm not even done with it yet. I really want to read the final book and move on to the spin-off, but I'm also not sure if I'm emotionally prepared for it. #booknerdproblems XD (2022 Liv: the #10 spot?! Girl, take off that zero. I really was such a fool in my high school years omg. Facepalm.)
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