Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

37 reviews

an_apollinaria's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Incest, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, and Alcohol

hq_reads's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

I read this so quickly - it was a great, fast-paced fantasy romance. I found the “grooming” element to the story a bit creepy but ultimately I enjoyed the romance - I guess she was technically an adult at 16 but it was a bit creepy. But I know loads of fantasy draws on tropes like that (e.g. Labrynth). 

I enjoyed the plot as well, I though the scene in the nursery was really creepy and the author did a great job of creating a tense atmosphere during the moment with the Thief. It was a perfect balance of disturbing and mysterious and I’m excited to see where the story goes.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 for spice - it was quite good. The slow burn was great and I absolutely swooned when he said “you didn’t think the king of night would just be gentle did you?” 😮‍💨🥵

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Confinement, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Rape

Moderate: Mental illness and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Pregnancy

hannahs_library__'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit

tanadeet's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Just did a re-read and ❤️ it is still one of my favourite stories. Fae meets siren banter, mystery, sarcasm, slow burn romance that is just swoon worthy if you know what you know and read the story a second time. And I'll read it again someday, it's just that good 🪽🪶

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture

Minor: Vomit

bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcohol, Stalking, Blood, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Cursing, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting

kellicat94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Torture, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Blood, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Pregnancy, Slavery, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Bullying, Grief, Physical abuse, and Stalking

jen1804's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.75

My overall feeling having finished book one of The Bargainer series is ‘hmm that was kind of a weird read’. I really, really enjoyed the set up and the first few chapters where the reader starts to learn about Callie’s past versus what she’s up to now.
The age of Callie when she first meets the bargainer and starts spending so much time with him is a little problematic, why couldn’t Laura Thalassa have made Callie a few years older and that whole problematic-veering-on-the-line-of-child-grooming-thing could have been avoided. I get that Callie refers to him as acting like a nun around her when she’s younger etc etc and nothing technically ever happens between them until he returns later on when she’s 24, and it’s explained that the moment they met he knew she was his mate which is why he kept coming back to spend so much time with her, but that he wouldn’t let himself touch her because she was so young - so guy’s obvs got standards, but it still feels a bit morally grey to me.
The plot itself is kinda bizarre, I don’t feel as though there was quite enough world building or character development along with the narrative for the plot to wholly work. Everything seemed to happen so very quickly! There wasn’t enough detail in the scenes for me to fully grab hold of time passing or relationships growing or fear building etc. it all felt really rushed, when the equilibrium becomes disrupted for example, it’s not for very long.
I’m not in love with Callie/Des’ relationship the same way I am with other book couples because I just don’t feel I have enough depth from the characters yet. I will continue with the series though and will see how things progress.
Satisfactory ending? Meh.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol

Forced pregnancy

hannibanani29'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Incest, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy

Minor: Homophobia and Slavery

booksofautumn's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Slavery

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence