Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters

20 reviews

wickeddelights's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

4.25

There was a lot I really liked about this book. The story follows a woman named Silla on the run from a past she is far from certain of, toward a safehaven located at the end of a dangerous path known as the Road of Bones. Through a set of quick decisions and a small bit of deception she ends up traveling with a group known as the Bloodaxe Crew in hopes that they can get her safely to her destination. What happens along the way is a story you simply need to read for yourself.
~~**Spoilers Below**~~(Although not a lot of them)

The author did a good job of maintaining a voice throughout the whole story that helped with the immersion in the setting. Phrases were worded in such a way that it was easy to imagine it being spoken by someone in a fantasy nordic setting. 
The power/magic systems were really interesting and easy to follow, and most of the flora and fauna was pretty unique.
Where the story has some pitfalls for me is in some of the pacing. For a while during the travels the days/chapters could be summed up with "Silla cooked the daymeal. Jonas and Rey brooded by the fire. The others played dice, with maybe a bit of training and fun banter with Hekla on the side. And while it is very clear that Silla is struggling with an addiction, sometimes the thoughs revolving leaves felt overwhelming to read. I'm not saying that as a bad thing neccisarily (I honestly think thats the point) but I thought it worth noting nonetheless.
And while one of the things I praise highly of this book happenes to be the immersive speech, sometimes it felt like it could make sections drag a tiny bit. 

Alllll of that said. I really enjoyed this book, and I am excited to read book two.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Norse inspired, slow burn, adventure, duology

jocogr's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit and Medical trauma

lexibex26's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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

If I could rate this book higher, I would. Good lord, I am hooked and I need all of it directly injected into my veins.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Misogyny, Torture, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

kimotheruler's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

luckybookjunkie's review

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

One of my favorite booktok-er's raved about this book, and I am glad I read it! It made me feel, it made me think, and it kept me guessing. There were actually 2 things that happened that I didn't see coming AT ALL, but instead of them feeling out of place, they were laid out so expertly. I was really impressed. Part of what brought down the star rating for me was that I didn't like the FMC for a chunk of the book, or her love interest - but after finishing the book I can see what groundwork the author was laying. I am REALLY looking forward to book 2 in a few weeks. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death of parent

nicole_thereader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

wollfaden's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I didn’t know how many pages the book had, when I started reading. Halfway through I discovered that I’ve already read 350 pages. 
I really liked the writing style and the pace, even though it seemed a bit to slow in the first half (would describe the pace in the first half as medium)
All in all it was a good read. The plot twist were kinda predictable but not badly made.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sejw's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death of parent

soniajoy98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry

samantha_ellen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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

New favourite book unlocked ✨

The author was masterful in her execution of this story. The world felt unique & the story different while also having all the tropes I love. 

Honestly I was taken along for a RIDE! & wow I went through so many emotions reading this book.  Not only was I hooked from the first page with flawless world building, but the characters felt so real I swear I am part of their found family & will protect them at all costs. 

Even when there were some story lines I normally don’t gravitate towards, the author 

was able to handle it in a way that didn’t give me the ick… & I feel like I wouldn’t dnt even mention them to people for fear they would discount the true brilliance of this story. 

I also loved how the author handled subjects around power & consent & domestic violence in a really nuanced way that wasn’t for shock value, it felt authentic to the story & was grounded in real life. 

This is a true adult romantic fantasy ~ about VIKINGS!!! ~ with a engaging plot, 3 dimensional characters & a smouldering slow burn romance. Kick arse female characters & twists & turns I didn’t expect ~ THAT ENDING!! ~ There were some I did see coming but like all books it is how the author takes you through the story & I was engaged & throughly entertained the whole way!

This book will absolutely be a highlight from my reading year & I can’t wait for the next in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent