Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

4 reviews

sweetordinary's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

If you are a fan of a dark mystery filled with self-discovery, love, and adventure, this is a book you need to try. Magic is infused every step of the way. 

I love and appreciate the fact that the themes of love, romance, and intimate relationships took a back seat for the main character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Blood, Death, Grief, Gore, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Confinement and Hate crime

sirkeili's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This book took me a while to get through, but overall I found it quite intriguing. Watching Emilia comb through clues with her reluctant sidekick was quite amusing, even if her denial of fact was a tad frustrating. 

The plot really picks up towards the end, and some lore is actually given, albeit a tad predicatable if you are reading the context clues correctly.  

I mean, you're telling me that this-

“No one knows for certain, (...) Some believe it refers to the use of light and dark magic. Few think it means a prince will fall in love with a witch."

-isn't the plot of every enemies to lover's romance, I am supposed to remain oblivious???  I think the fuck not, and I honestly love and respect that it doesn't shy away from the trope, but rather embraces it wholeheartedly.

Overall, this book was a tad slow on the uptake, but it was quite a nice starting point for the series. Emelia's revenge has only just started, and I am eager to see the wrath (yes, I went there) she brings down upon the princes, and those who ultimately have caused Vittoria's death. I am also keen to see what Wrath's part to play will be, as he was little too quiet and unnaturally withdrawn at the end. I know he's strategizing, but how he plans to fulfill his plan is something look forward to watching. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Sexual content, Torture, Death, Grief, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Confinement, Drug abuse, Genocide, and Kidnapping

jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Toxic friendship, Grief, Confinement, Kidnapping, Blood, Death, and Child death

nota_candycaine's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Violence, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Blood, Body horror, and Death