Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

10 reviews

karydiazc's review against another edition

dark sad 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

4.25

Everything was so predictable... except for that one last plot twist I definetly did not see coming, that last betrayal...
I loved it 

Midas was so manipulative all the way and finding out he was Barden East was the cherry on top, when he revealed everything he did to get to Auren... omg.
Also, Auren finally ending midas with gold was bliss. I kind of wish he suffered more, but still, it was gratifying.
I kind of wanted the nobles and the people to realize it was Auren all along who had the gold, but making asumptions about her being able to steal powers was better somehow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Violence, Child abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, and Slavery

courtknee_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Child death, Gaslighting, and Sexual content

dani_reis's review

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Cursing, Death, Confinement, Abandonment, Child abuse, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Trafficking

Moderate: Mental illness and Bullying

spaghettii's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Drug abuse, Classism, Confinement, Infertility, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Gaslighting, Trafficking, Violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and War

dealfea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Vomit, Misogyny, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Blood, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Gore, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

scarlett_f's review

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

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

shannon_magee's review

adventurous dark emotional slow-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

2.0

Up until about 80% this book was reading as the best of the series so far (despite an aggressive amount of analogies in the writing that made it a struggle to read. You could tell they wanted to be lyrical and meaningful, perfect for a blurb or social media quote, but there were just too many of them and they were too extended, clunking up the narrative. The pace also seemed highly confused, which wound up contributing to a clunky narrative). Unfortunately, at around 84%, this book became a dumping ground for trauma porn. Extensive trauma porn, in an already unabashedly trauma-tastic series. And the payoff is never satisfying enough to make going through the gleefully awful events in this book worth it. Every time I read a book in this series, I’m excited by the potential of the premise and the characters, and every time the writing is overdone and the dramatics so heightened it just leaves be hollow and disappointed. I truly don’t understand why the romantasy community is so happy with this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Confinement, Bullying, Blood, Addiction, and Murder

cluckieduck's review

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

These books certainly keep getting better! Also, the fact that she’s managed to make the ribbons their own character is amazing (and heartbreaking, ngl).

I’m going to say that the extra length in this one that helped flesh out some of the characters and plot that was missing in books 1 & 2 for me, but the overall arc is settling in and progressing nicely, then BOOM. That last 20% was such an emotional roller coaster that left me reeling!

The expanding list of multiple POVs was appreciated, though I could do without any more from Malina (I get the reasons but man, she’s a whiny cow).

Excited to see where Glow takes us!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Addiction, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Death, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Pregnancy and Classism

Minor: Vomit

courtney_wallmqt's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense fast-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

This book may be thick, but it is worth every page. The editing is gorgeous. The dialogue, on point. The conflict is intense and the characters are so incredible. You loathe the villain, you love the heroin, and you crave the love interest. The sex scenes left me holding my breath and my legs squeezing together. Everything about this book and the series is perfect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Torture

michellemaas's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

First Read: 4.5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Second Read: 5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've seen a few other people say it as well, but I'll reiterate in case you missed it: best book in the series BY FAR! So many plot points finally came to rise in this installment, including but not limited too, Malina's rule, Rip and Auren's relationship, and Midas's relationship with Auren. There were also another few plot twists that were masterfully done, so that's something to look forward to.

Going on to some specifics, we'll start with AuRip. Kennedy has been teasing us with their undeniable sexual tension and chemistry since book one, so having that be resolved in Gleam was so satisfying. I enjoyed that their relationship wasn't immediately perfect and that Auren's feelings for Midas weren't immediately resolved as soon as Rip came into her life. Also, we get arguably one of the most iconic "Who did this to you?" scenes ever, so immediate props for that.

Next, I want to discuss the multiple point-of-views. Kennedy has been including multiple perspectives in this series since book 1, but this is the first book where I felt that truly added something to the stories. We got chapters from Auren, Midas, Rip, and Malina's perspectives and Kennedy did a masterful job of conveying each character's essence in their chapter. At the end of the book, we also get the climax told from both Auren and Rip's point-of-view which was especially cool as we always wonder what's going on in the other main charter' head when something big happens.

Then there was the inclusion of "the wrath". We got to see quite a bit more on them in Gleam and it was very refreshing. They are without a doubt some of the best charters in the series so having them be featured more was a definite highlight. I am crossing my fingers that some of them (I am totally talking about Lu) get their own chapters told from their perspectives in the next book.

I also can't do this review without mentioned Auren's meltdown. LEGENDARY I say. It was so well written and such a perfect end to her arc with Midas. Everything about the scene was brilliant and I want to give a shoutout to that.

Lastly, I just want to commend Kennedy for the way she resolved her plotlines. She brought an end to several storylines that started in book 1, without leeching the plot for future books. The way she resolved the plotlines she chose to end gave rise to new ones in a way that was fresh and makes me excited for the 4th installment. 

Great book and great writing. In case it wasn't clear, I am sitting on the edge of my seat until the next book gets released.

P.S. I am pretty sure I have mentioned this on every entry I've done on this series, but there are some major From Blood and Ash vibes to this series, so if you liked this series and are looking for something to read until Glow comes out, you should definitely give it a try.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Abandonment, Sexism, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture

Minor: Body shaming and Mental illness