Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Wicked King by Holly Black

39 reviews

anigirl524's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

[17 june 2023—update]
i'll be re-reading this book at some point this year. to be honest, i don't remember most of what happened, and i think it will be good to actively read it and write a better review.

[3 january 2023—initial review]
this book was loads better than the cruel prince.  i definitely enjoyed seeing how the characters developed in this novel, especially cardan (he still confuses me immensely though).

now i have to wait ~8 weeks for the queen of nothing audiobook or find time to read it physically once i get back to school 😭😭😭 i just want to know what happens next.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Self harm

shelbyrodger's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Death, Toxic friendship, and Physical abuse

lizzye33's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, and Violence

Moderate: War, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Drug use, Classism, Alcohol, Vomit, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, and Murder

kajasversion's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The story was really interesting and there were so many plot twists and schemes that i was always worried what will happen next. The main character is very strong and independent which hurts her many times but she always picks herself back up. She knows she can only trust herself in a world she’s living in. Everyone is always stabbing each other’s backs and making alliances. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Blood

micapellin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Blood, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Vomit

nicolekohl's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Bullying, and Death

egurgens's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective 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

4.75

To be honest, I don’t like this book as much as I did the first one. Although Jude is just as much of a badass as she was in the first one, there is a lot more at play in this book, and she doesn’t get to show it off as much as in the first book.  This book was also a little slower than the first one, although the ending was still super dramatic. The first book seemed to maybe be driven equally by both plot and character development, but this one seems to favor plot over character. Let’s just say, I’m pissed at the ending, and I’m mad at a great many characters. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Bullying, Confinement, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexism, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Drug use

lyd41's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Overall, good. Didn't have sequel syndrome thank god. Not as character focused as last book, more focused on Jude balancing relationships, good and bad. Lots of discussion on political strategy.  No major problems with the book! :D I wish a certain pivotal part of the book

Jude's MONTH LONG hostage situation

was greater emphasized, as that event was a domino effect regarding the decisions of so many characters close to Jude. That event single handedly determined the last chunk of the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, War, Sexual content, Death, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction and Abandonment

aidamaria_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

Just when you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to cunningly deceiving, secretively scheming and shamelessly betraying in The Cruel Prince … The Wicked King is a very worthy second instalment. I’m usually weary of sequels, but this one exceeded my expectations. And Jude does. Not. Back. Down! She might be my favourite heroine I’ve come across in a fantasy book. She is relentless, she is resilient, she will have the world torn to pieces before she gives up on reaching her goals. Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 out of 5 stars) from me! 🧚🏻‍♀️

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, and War

amkleio's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, War, and Toxic relationship