Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Krieg by Laura Thalassa

45 reviews

mattiedancer's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.75

Writing: 3.25⭐️/5 

Alright, so the writing is serviceable. I liked it in the sense that it didn’t get in the way. I did feel like the pacing was a bit off for this one. I noticed a lot more exposition starting to creep in. It felt a bit less polished. Overall, though, it stood out less than her first book in this series (Pestilence) strictly because it felt a bit like a carbon copy in certain sections.

Characters: 3.5⭐️/5

Above I said that the writing felt a bit too familiar. So did the characters. Now, War is completely different than Pestilence. Miriam feels a little too similar to Sara. As the novel picked up, she definitely struck out on her own, gaining her own sense of self. However, by then the similarities were embedded into my brain too much, and it became harder to notice their differences. I did appreciate getting a few more side characters in this one as well, even if some of them lacked a bit of depth.

Plot: 3.75⭐️/5 

The plot is fun – and, you guessed it, overall very similar to Pestilence. All in all, I did enjoy the differences, loving how Miriam pushed against her fate as War’s wife. I loved how he, in his differences from Pestilence, forced her to move in different directions. I will say the end felt a bit too pulled out. Everything felt so over, and for everyone to come back to kill War just felt a bit contrived, as though Thalassa was trying too hard to make the ending similar to Pestilence.

Who Should Read This Book? 

• Fans of ACOTAR and dystopian societies
• Someone looking for a romance with an intriguing plot
• Those who like fantasy/apocalyptic novels that centre on romance
• Readers who like (or don’t mind) a bit of spice, but not just spice
• Those who liked and loved the first book (but maybe take a break between so it’s not too fresh)

Content Warnings? 

Death, murder, murder, sexual content, physical abuse, emotional abuse, kidnapping, fire, fire injury, gore, blood, injury, injury detail, gun violence, violence, animal death, torture, grief, body horror, sexual harassment, sexual assault, war, 

Post-Reading Rating:  3⭐️/5

I didn’t love how the ending came about. Very contrived and pushed towards predictability, when it didn’t have to be.

Final Rating: 3.5⭐️/5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ashwood_15's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and War

Minor: Sexual assault

bellebookcorner's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

3.5

“Loss is a wound that never heals. Never never never. It scabs over, and for a time you can almost forget it’s there, but then something—a smell, a sound, a memory—will split that wound right open, and you’ll be reminded again that you’re not whole. That you’ll never fully be whole again.”

Read this book if you love;
• Dark Fantasy Paranormal Romance
• Morally Grey Character
• Enemies-to-Lovers
• He Falls First
• Forced Marriage
• Post-Apocalyptic World
• Touch Her and You Die

This sequel is pretty much similar to the 1st book, one of the four horsemen (War) met the FMC(Miriam) while doing their mission. I also found Miriam and the previous one has similar traits – stubborn, strong willed and compassionate.

The world building is expanding, this time it takes place in Israel. Compare to Pestilence who works alone, War has a large camp where his captives and soldiers live. It’s interesting that the readers got a glimpse of how life goes for those living at the camp.

Pestilence was right though, War is more ruthless and vicious compare to Pestilence. I would be terrified meeting him face to face, but not Miriam who raised up against him every chance she got.

I like seeing how War slowly changes and learn more about mercy, growing conscience and redemption throughout the story, however it was mostly centered because of his needs to be loved by Miriam.
 
It takes quite a while for Miriam and War to admit their feelings for each other because they argue/fight most of the time.
The level of spiciness of this book is higher than the 1st book since War definitely know his way around women compare to Pestilence. 
 
Overall, this story is pretty enjoyable. I really like the character’s development and the author’s writing style - it was easy to read and conveyed the emotions very well; the feeling of loss, love and hope.
I want to keep reading this series since I heard Famine and Death gets even better so I’m looking forward to it.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death, violence, sexual content, murder, war, sexual assault, vomit

I received an advanced review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and War

Moderate: Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit

spoookycat's review against another edition

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Pregnancy

Moderate: Sexual assault and Vomit

emmathebookworm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

3.5

This was definitely better than the first book. However, I felt like something was missing. I would’ve liked to see more of War’s POV,  which could’ve really captured his moral struggles throughout the story. It’s a bit slow at times and the end was quite fast, but that doesn’t make the book much less enjoyable.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

kat1105's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

bangiebangs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

Really enjoyable, like the first one. That said, the journey to reach a destination of happily ever after is way different here than in Pestilence. This is brutal in a different way, and has some interesting turns. 

Slow burn enemies to lovers, and I deducted half a point only because I felt there were some chapters that could have been merged. I never got bored reading, but some stuff could have been edited better/ made more concise. 

Heed the CNs, this is not mincing words (or deeds). Spice is medium. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Self harm, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

headbangerhijabi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

Moderate: Sexual violence and Pregnancy

Minor: Xenophobia and Vomit

katierose_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

Yooooo. I read pestilence ages ago and remember really enjoying it! But this one I INHALED! So good!

Definitely very dark, but in the context of what's happening that makes a lot of sense! 

Super interesting, super tense. Top notch and can see the improvement from pestilence to this instalment! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault

mspilesofpaper's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

2.5

2.5 stars.

Slightly better than Pestilence.

Pestilence was boring and certainly hated it to kill people. War is pretty much Ares (or is Ares like War? who knows) as both enjoy battle, killing, bloodlust etc. War has zero issues with the fact that his men would rape women in the war camp until it would’ve happened to Sara. (All these rape/sexual assault mentions really tell me that I would just kill myself if we have to live through an apocalypse.)

The ending is so … ugh, stereotypical? It’s an happy ending but so predictable.

I hope that Death will live up to his two scenes because he’s an ass in both.

Concerning the world state: Pestilence went through the USA and Canada with parts of Mexico. War took Asia (from Vietnam starting), the Middle East and Egypt/Sudan. I suppose that one book will play in Europe then. South America and Africa (aside Egypt & Sudan) are still possibilities but somehow I doubt that one of the remaining books will play there.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, and War

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault