Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

39 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

rubisbooknook's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

Ok this is the book where this series fully shines! Book 1 and 2 in the series were all set up for the perfection that is this book. I absolutely loved it! I was so emotionally invested in Auren’s journey to find her strength and it was beautiful seeing it. The love story finally took off in this book too and I was obsessed it. There were also some shocking revelations and surprising moments that had me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I always say the best was to know if a book was good is when it makes you get so lost in it that you forget you’re reading, and this is one of those stories that has the ability to do that! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

yasmin96's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Sexual content

Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug use, Death, and Sexual assault

Minor: Trafficking and Addiction

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

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

eleek0609's review

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Drug use, Sexual content, Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny

Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Infidelity, Cursing, Death of parent, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Trafficking

katharina90's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

The pace picks up a bit and there's more plot but considering the page count, it feels like we should be seeing a lot more action. We finally get some smut though! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Torture, Confinement, and Addiction

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

emilysbooksandbakes's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

4.25

This one was a roller coaster of emotions. We finally see our girl, Auren, choosing herself, and fighting for more. We also get some fantastic payoff on our slow burn and cheeky ribbons. The Game of Thrones continues as we are a new player to the game, Queen Kaila and her power over voices. The villain becomes even more villainous in a way that makes your blood pressure rise.  The last few chapters of this book are a storm of wanting to throw your book across the room, standing up and applauding in an empty room, and then picking your heart up off the floor where the cliffhanger leaves it.

One other thing about this book, as I feel like Raven Kennedy does a really good job of not just writing a great story, but writing beautifully. There’s a scene where Auren is recalling cerulean sails that merges with memories of the eyes of a former friend and it really just struck me as lyrical.

“I became too blinded by my bright sides to see the truth. Sometimes, you look at the silver lining so much that you drift into denial about the clouds.”

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Trafficking, Physical abuse, Addiction, and Sexual violence