Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Wicked King by Holly Black

84 reviews

martiannadoor's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I read the first book in this trilogy and while I mildly enjoyed it, the last few chalters got me hooked, so I read the second one, and I found The Wicked King to not only be an excellent sequel, but also a lot more entertaining than the first installment. We see a lot more of the dynamic between Jude and Cardan, which gives more room for the characters to develop independently, and also with each other. I find the fantasy political aspect of Elfhame fascinating in this series and this books went even more in depth to it. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

cassie12_21's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I like how Cardan’s character developed. The first half was a little slow, but the second half picked up.  I also think I may have liked this book better than the first.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: War

She cuts her leg open and it made me gage a little

theinfinitebookcase's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

My feelings about this book were much the same as the first (a good read for plot, but not for characters. Plot and political stuff was much more interesting than the Jude and Cardan's relationship, unless the relationship directly impacted the politics). I still have no investment in either of the characters and do not really understand or care for their relationship (I thought by this point we would begin to see them like each other a bit, but I can hardly tell if they like each other at all. Perhaps this is the point and its just not for me, but I truthfully don't understand the appeal of their relationship, when it seems they just hate each other and have no chemistry). Still, again it was definitely an entertaining read with a good plot and I will be picking up book #3! So I can't complain too much. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder

ilove_books16's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

This book was amazing and I was left with an amazing cliffhanger at the end making me want to read the next one!!!! Would 100% recommend 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, and Injury/Injury detail

lisa_m's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This ending!!!! I hate it so much and I love it! It makes me so so mad but also it is brilliant.

This book truly makes me a hypocrite. I never thought I could love something so much that I also absolutely hate. I guess that's quite fitting for the book though.

Cardan is so horrible and I honestly don't know why I like this book. It has so many things I usually would hate in a book but somehow I am just hooked. I guess I just really like the writing. The world building is really great and the characters have a way of getting to you.

The ending was exactly what I expected and also the biggest plot twist.

I assumed that Cardan and Jude would get married but I never thought that he would betray her like that!! I thought that after he saved her and she saved his life they would bond and finally be the power couple I know they are destined to be. I don't know what to expect from the next book truly but I am so excited and ready. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

mariareviews's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Toxic relationship

zoeelora's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

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

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

lopez's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use and Toxic relationship