Reviews tagging 'War'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

15 reviews

frantically's review

dark emotional funny slow-paced

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

3.5

The lit student in me, the critic, would like to rate this 3 or even 2 stars. Nothing happened. Just like in the last book. But the Aurip (?) stan in me won out.

You know, maybe sometimes we don't need a plot. Maybe some healing and some sex is enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Death

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Addiction, Confinement, and Misogyny

Minor: Rape and War

itsbrianascall's review

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, War, Child death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Confinement

Moderate: Cursing, Violence, Death, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy

yarisbooksandbevs's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad 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

4.0

I really enjoyed this one.

There were many twists and reveals that I didn’t see coming. The cliff hanger leaves much to question that I’m assuming will be answered in the future books.

I love Slade. I love the Wrath. Auren is growing on me….like a fungus. Lol

watching Auren come into her power was beautiful. She still made a few mistakes but she has learned to fight for herself and for Slade and it was so refreshing.

The sex scenes were very hot! It switched to more modern language for a second and it was a bit jarring at first but it was well done. There were also some heart wrenching scenes that were well done and had my jaw on the floor. I really liked this one and I’m glad I stuck it out to get to this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Confinement, Death, and Drug use

Moderate: Trafficking, Addiction, Alcohol, Torture, Blood, Infidelity, and Pregnancy

Minor: War, Infertility, Kidnapping, and Vomit

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

erisedstraeh's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content

Moderate: War and Torture

lydiasturges's review

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.25

Thank the lord that Auren is finally seeing the light when it comes to Midas!! I just wish she didn’t have to be used and abused as much before she realized her worth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Confinement, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Child death, War, and Violence

hmb86's review

adventurous dark tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content

Moderate: Torture, Slavery, Drug use, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Rape, Trafficking, and Sexism

Minor: Pregnancy and War

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

midnacine's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

This is absolutely my favorite book in the series, it wrenches my heart out every fucking time. Not a big fan of the narrators' performances in this one- I don't think Blake Lockhart reads women's voices well, so that took me out of the smut, and Zara Eden's inflection and pronunciation choices were strange at best. Narration I'd probably give a 3.75/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Torture, Sexual content, Blood, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexism, Confinement, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Trafficking

Minor: Infidelity, War, Infertility, Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, and Grief

lauravreads's review

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, Torture, and Physical abuse

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