Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

71 reviews

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Rape, Stalking, Torture, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Animal death, Bullying, Mental illness, War, Grief, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, and Self harm

katievallin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Violence, Cursing, and Trafficking

Moderate: Rape, Stalking, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder

Minor: Bullying and Death of parent

katlynnnxo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol

blondie3300's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Rape, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Cursing, Alcohol, and Sexual assault

erin_young's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, and Vomit

marimoose's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.5

It's clear this book kept my attention, especially since I blitzed it in roughly two days. I think a lot of that was due to the familiarity of the tropes and plot involved. I've seen the comparisons of the Bargainer to Rhysand, but I feel like Des was a conglomeration of a Rhysand and an Adam Hauptman with the ethereal looks of a Malfoy just sprinkled in there. The plot and mystery itself took a back seat to the romance (we get flashbacks to seven years prior) between Callie and Des, which I found worked to develop the characters' relationships to each other. But at the same time, I wished we actually got to see Callie AND Des be more wicked, monstrous, and badass. 

I felt like there could have been much more done with Callie's talents, and the Bargainer beads--while constantly prominent throughout most of the story--are only offhand mentions to move and explain a crucial turn in the climax (which could have been done better). I honestly wished Callie had more agency at the end, too, because while yes,

Des coming in to save the day was oddly satisfying, but Callie not helping out and going after the big bad with her siren ferocity was a wasted opportunity. Only in fantasies do we usually get sexual predators being utterly eviscerated by the supernatural love interests, but it's also high time for the assaulted to take their power back in a similar cathartic release.

I will definitely pick up the rest of the trilogy at some point, because my hope is we get to see more of Des and Callie actually showing their badassery.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Violence and Sexual content

Minor: Rape

fionamatilda's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Violence

hclin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will plan to finish the series. I would be hard pressed to recommend this series because of the sheer number of trigger warnings it requires. I liked the spice and even the relationship between the two main characters as adults, but it was difficult to get over that

the romantic part of their relationship began when she was 16. This detracted from my experience as a reader.

I felt the world building could have been a bit stronger but I'm hoping it will get better in the next books (this could be because I'm less of a fan of urban/low fantasy though). My favourite aspect of this series is the concept of Callie being a Siren and the power and difficulties of this identity. I found it to be a unique take on magic/powers with interesting reflections about sexuality and feminism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Confinement, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Slavery and Toxic relationship

ell_n's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Gore

bangiebangs's review

adventurous emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Enjoyable and funny read (except the Harry Potter references... those didn't age well imo), with a nice starting point. There are some pretty dark themes (sexual abuse), so be warned. I'm finding that I really like Laura Thalassas style of writing, so am expecting to like most (if not all) of her work?

The pacing is pretty good, and while some plot points are a bit obvious to the discerning reader (

that they are mates

) it's really enjoyable to read. 

Slight warning if you're sensitive to having a very young heroine (underage) fall for a much older love interest (supernatural, so... very old) - he holds back until she is of age, but still a tad cringe. 

Recommended if you like your morally grey MMCs, powerful MFCs, a gaggle of fantasy tropes, etc. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Alcohol, Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Torture, Grief, Rape, Alcoholism, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent