Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Leviathan's Song by Elsie Winters

6 reviews

mxgremlin's review

adventurous funny mysterious 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

4.0

 My first read by Winters, and I will absolutely be going to download the next after I post this. 

Overall, this was delightful. The best I've felt after finishing a book in a really, really long time. Advertised as a slow burn, I found it more of a medium - the plot was actually interesting, the MCs grew more than a little, but overall I didn't see enough time pass between the love interests, enough content between them, to consider it a slow burn. 

I was really surprised that this got a few laughs out of me! I'm much more likely to cringe or just kinda nod along like yeah that's.... amusing I guess, but I cackled a few times throughout the book. MMC and his friends were a delight to read about, and I'm so grateful that they weren't just cliché bros.

Speaking of... This thing had so many chances to fall back into the easy safety of using clichés we've (I refuse to speak for just myself) seen time and time again in fanfiction and published romance alike - dead parents, inheritance with no strings, supposedly ~27yo but acting like they're not yet even 20, etc. FMC has parents in here, y'all! And they're not cardboard! FMC has $$$$ but she and MMC have realistic interactions about it (he does not come from money). I don't know/remember if their ages are stated, but FMC owns a shop, so I'd assume mid 20s - and she acts how I'd expect someone of that age.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism

obviouspseudonym's review

adventurous emotional funny 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

4.0

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The character development and world building in particular were very well done. This is a great book if you're looking for something with a lot of adventure in it, or if you're looking for a fantasy with a detailed world. The romance between Levi and Elara is great, too! Though I would more call it a medium-fast burn than a slow burn.

I was slightly disappointed by the ending. I still have a few questions that I think could be answered within this book, but nothing is significantly left open, and this is definitely an HEA. 

I included an explanation of the CWs I added in the CW section if you want more details about that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism and Violence

Minor: Colonisation

Explanations for CW (spoilers ahead!) Sexual Content:

The main characters have sex with each other lol, that's pretty much it. You can skip those scenes and not miss much plot development if you are sensitive to sexual content.

Alcoholism:

Levi's dad is an alcoholic due to the trauma of Levi's mother leaving him. There is a scene were he is passed out after a night of heavy drinking and fighting. Levi's father also unintentionally harms him when he wakes up. He is not a major character and only shows up a few times, and it is mentioned in the epilogue that he is in rehab and in recovery, but that he still has bad days. If you are sensitive to characters experiencing alcoholism, you may want to skip this book.

Violence:

Elara is the target of a gang called Phantom because they want to use her powers to make themselves a weapon. She is attacked a couple of times, though about halfway through the book they stop becoming a real problem. Elara is never significantly harmed because she is always able to defend herself or be defended by somebody else, but there is a scene towards the beginning in which she is NEARLY kidnapped.

Colonisation:

There are some themes of colonisation, especially in the dynamics of the mer/The Alliance and the sprites. It isn't explicit at all, but it's worth mentioning that the mer do attempt to exercise control over the sprites, specifically by controlling their defense systems. However, they don't really end up succeeding in this control due to the actions of Elara.

potalian's review

medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy

spuki's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Abandonment

katiekeske's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved this story. The characters are so lovable! The slow-burn romance was so sweet. I like how it felt like a slice-of-life story at times, but also had the ultimate goal of helping the sprites who lived in the Deep. Elara is such a compassionate, hardworking heroine. Each character felt well-developed to me, and I couldn't get enough of the friends' interactions. Can't wait to read the next book now!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Death, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Alcoholism

thereadinghammock's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

I love how Elsie marries the drama of high fantasy with the accessibility of urban fantasy. Her Boundlands universe is a fantastic meet-in-the middle of both genres. Elara is a no fuss half elf, who's skill as an artificer and golemmancer is getting notices--and not always by the kind of people you want to be noticed by. Levi is a landlocked male siren just trying to make his way in the world but resents his mer-heritage. While the two seemingly have nothing in common, happenstance keeping bringing them back together, and neither of them seems too broken up about it.

I love the supporting cast too! Levi's roommates, Grim and Jordan are a hoot and I love the friendly ribbing they give each other throughout the story. Sidney is Elara's ride or die and always happy to jump into the fray on behalf of her best friend; just don't spook her or she'll shift into her magpie form in a panic! The plot driving the undercurrent story has so many layers--sociopolitical, race relations, gangs/mafia/secret orders--there's almost so much that it's too much! But a lot of it I think is more world building for future books, along with setting up some of the plot opportunities for this story. It was a nice addition, since it gave the rest of the romance and love story some greater bearing than just "two people meet and fall in love. Isn't that nice?"

I can't wait for Magpies and Mayhem when it comes out to get more of the happy couple and to get Sidney her fun!

Some of the romance plot details I did love were how up front Levi and Elara were with each other. First with Levi explaining the bonding and contact hesitancy he has at the beginning of their relationship. There was no beating around the bush, or "Oh no, I just don't think he's into me!" I loved when Elara realizes she's used to running scenarios in her head and that Levi can't read her mind, so as their relationship progresses and they're doing things together more, and she realizes his panic as she just starts doing things she remembers she needs to voice her thought process and he immediately relaxes once he knows what's going on. Or how before they're both fully "in it" for the relationship and they're still trying to be careful of Levi's bonding boundaries, the creative ways they find to tough each other without touching each other--pulling the other close by the belt loops, grabbing a fistful of their t-shirt to anchor themselves to the other--I love a good forbidden touch trope! And after Levi calms down about the "paper marriage" idea and they both realize they're ok with it being a for-real for-real marriage, I am such a sucker for a good, "That's my spouse and they're AMAZING! I'm so happy they're mine and I'm theirs. And if you harm a hair on their head you will regret that decision."

Oh my gods, and the baby surprise from Grim at the very end?? I about dies at his awkward exclamation of, "How did you not know!! It's your body!!"

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Sexual content

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Racism, and War

Minor: Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Stalking