Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

49 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

kimberlyyyreads's review

dark emotional 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

4.0

When I catch the mf that Midas is it’s OVER FOR HIM. 

Auren my love, u literally deserve the entire world. I am so glad that she grew within herself and learned to prioritize herself. But I am absolutely DEVASTATED for her 😭💔

Slade deserves more book time 🫵, I need to see more of him and hope that the next books show me that. He is so fineeeee. 

As for Slade & Auren, I wish we got to see more of their relationship. It seems like we’ve mostly seen Midas and Auren relationship rather than Slade and her and I hope that the next books show me MORE of them. 

The literal plot twist at the end had my jaw DROPPING, I CANNOT believe what I had read and need time to sit on this because WTF?!? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting

elliexshepherd's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Drug use, Sexual harassment, and Cursing

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

homesweetread's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

Aussitôt le tome 2 terminé, je n'avais d'autre choix que d'enchainer directement sur la suite et j'ai vraiment bien fait ! Ici on retrouve Midas qui m'a vraiment terrorisé pendant toute l'histoire. Il est tellement imprévisible, impulsif et manipulateur qu’il en devient terrifiant. 

De son côté Auren continue de déconstruire sa bulle de protection pour reconnaître les abus et sortir de ce schéma de maltraitance. Le développement psychologique est vraiment bien maitrisé et encore une fois, on ne peut qu’apprécier sa force. La quatrième armée et le Wrath m'ont vraiment manqué et je n’attendais qu’une chose : qu’elle quitte ce stupide palais au plus vite. 

La personnalité de Rip est hyper intéressante à creuser et je suis encore plus tomber amoureuse de lui. Côté intrigue, plusieurs passages m'ont briser le cœur et le cliffhancer était vraiment horrible ! Heureusement que la suite est déjà sortie, parce que je n’aurais pas pu rester sur cette fin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Grief, Violence, and Torture

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

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Pregnancy, Grief, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Vomit and Trafficking

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

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