Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

69 reviews

scarlett_f's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Trafficking, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War

bangiebangs'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Yes, this book finally delivers. You get all the steamy spice, the romance, the tension, and the twists. That, but heed the CNs again - where the last one was tamer, this one is pretty heavy, especially if you're sensitive to drug use and abuse. Spice, would say 4/5!

I read this one in one sitting again, and I feel like the story keeps picking up steam! The romance between Auren and Slade blossoms into steamy sex (dare I say: finally the slow burn is over!), and the first big story arc feels wrapped up. The book still ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but the main arcs are finished. 

There are a couple pretty intense themes in this one.

For me, the drug abuse - especially the scenes where Auren gets drugged - were pretty intense. This, along with the physical and psychological abuse is a severe mix.

Overall really good! I'm beginning to think you can skip book 1 (and maybe read a synopsis, or not), and just start with book 2. This could have been a duology. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Slavery and Torture

bekahzabel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

Wow. I’m so happy I stuck with it. I regret giving the first book below 4 stars because I UNDERSTAND NOW, I SEE, I SEE 😭😭 

This series has some of the strongest lead character development I’ve ever read. Bold claim, I know. I love Auren, I love her journey, I can’t wait to see how this continues to unfold. **Squeals in delight**

and SLADE!!!?? Have I found yet another fictional husband???? holy hannah RIP my morals when he purrs (sorry mom) 

And cue Ryatt??? Mans’ has a brother?????? 💀☠️😳🫠 

There is so much action  in this book, I couldn’t put it down. This series is leaving its mark on me forever. I usually never write spoilers but I just need to speak on it and word vomit about this book for a sec. cuz wowowowowow everything is coming together so exquisitely. Sayonara Midas. I hated you, gosh you were the worst. Rushing to go devour the next one.

If you love fantasy romance and Raven Kennedy isn’t on your radar she should be. This series should be. 
Beautifully written, the plated prisoner series has become one of my absolute favorites to date. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

mandi7mm's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking, and Pregnancy

_charliesbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cursing, Death, Infertility, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

weasleys_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

This series just keeps getting better and better. I can’t get enough of it! The characters are so fun and you really feel for the good guys and loathe the villains.

They finally get to the spice in this book, and boy! It is good! But also the characters talk dirty a lot 😂 which isn’t my cup of tea, but it’s pretty entertaining! Yay for Aurip! Also that ending is chefs kiss!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

lindsfranfrat's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

toriibrooke33's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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

5.0

How you can you not love a story where the woman comes into her own and realizes how strong and powerful she truly is? While also falling in love with the enemy that melts her gold harden heart and makes her realize her true worth.. and there’s still 3 more books to go! Ugh I love Auren


Quotes: 
-I’m hiding in a place where there is no hope of staying hidden.
-He broke something inside of me far more than just my heart. He broke my will. My drive. My voice. He broke down my very spirit, and I let him.
-Perhaps love is the price of my power
-He may wear the crown, but I was the one who made it gold. 👑
-“But I’ll be the villain for you. Not to you.”

Tropes: fairytale retelling, enemies to lovers, lovers to enemies, betrayal, found family 
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (at 60%, 2 scenes) 

Trigger warnings: drug use, physical abuse, “torture”, gaslighting, death

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Gaslighting

lauravreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Auren is one of the most frustrating protagonist I’ve ever read. I understand that she experienced trauma, gaslighting,manipulation, and abuse. Leaving your abuser is so hard and I don’t want to make light of the situation she was in. However, in a work of fiction (especially fantasy) I love character growth and when the protagonist becomes badass. With Auren, her character growth is so slow and stagnate. I was quite frustrated. 

Also, what the fuck was the first sex scene with Slade? He pinched and pulled her clitoris?? Has Raven Kennedy ever rubbed one out? I was disgusted. It’s like describing a blow job with teeth scraping the shaft and calling it “hot”. 🤢🤮


 Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. While frustrated, I did enjoy seeing Auren slowly become more independent. I blew through this book it was so captivating. (Especially the last 20%) I was DEVASTATED during the Dew/Ribbon scene. And when she finally gave in to her power 😱🤩🥳. It was probably the best action scene I’ve read in a while. I literally cannot stop thinking about it. 

If she is not a 100% bad bitch by the end of Glow i’m fucking done with this series. 

Jk im too invested and will read what ever Kennedy puts out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Physical abuse, and Torture

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War