Reviews tagging 'Torture'

A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair

40 reviews

majormnkey's review

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Unlike many others, it seems, I like this book better than the previous (A Touch of Darkness). 
It explores more of the main character and other characters beside the love interest, although maybe in a slightly chaotic way. Persephone’s is still whiny and frankly annoying though, and she hardly learns from her mistakes. 

Some parts were spicy when there was more need for proper conversation and exploration of each others feelings. 
Also some relationships with the characters did a 180 degree spin without proper incentive. One day they felt this way, the next they felt the total opposite. But overall I liked where they went with the story. 

The only thing that felt really off was one of the spicy scenes in the latter half of the book where a momentous event had taken place and they STILL chose to do a spicy scene almost immediately after, WHILE having a conversation about that specific event. It pulled my mind out of the book, because it felt disrespectful and like the opposite of what the main character would do in that situation.

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flaminghotchertos's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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margaret_k30's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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mei_mei's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

5.0


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book_s1ut's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

4.75

The ending killed me 😭

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firequeen_ash23's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

This series so far is really, really good. I love Hades and Persephone so much. Their story, no matter the person retelling it, is a story I can't help but have a special place for it in my heart. I've really enjoyed Scarlett's take on their story so far. 

The author has managed to not just write a retelling of Hades and Persephone, but she's put so many other wonderful God's, Goddesses, and mortals in this series.... which has only made it that much better. Of course both A Touch of Darkness and A Touch of Ruin ended with cliffhangers. Thankfully the first three books are already published so I don't have to wait to read what comes next, but I'm sad knowing that after I read A Touch of Malice, I'll have to wait for A Touch of Chaos. 😫

I really enjoyed this book because it showed such a wide variety of challenges Persephone faced whether it be emotionally, physically or magically. She struggled with every aspect of her life especially in her relationship with Hades, but even with all her struggles and mistakes, she still went through a lot of character growth and maturity. Unfortunately that didn't stop her from all the pain and anxiety she experienced but it did make her more relatable.  I've really enjoyed seeing her grow and become stronger against her mother. She's learning how to control her magic and wield it without hurting herself. 

I definitely enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the book as well. I couldn't believe so much happened and I was literally on the edge of my seat, biting my nails at certain points because so many disasters could have been averted but weren't. I definitely appreciate how well the author paced the story and let things fall into place without rushing the process Persephone and Hades had to go through. I think it shows that even though they're God's, they're still capable of doing things like mortals. 

I highly recommend this series to all my Greek Mythology lovers as well as fantasy lovers. This book has revenge, death, pain, love, sex, passion, heartbreak, forgiveness, and growth. There's something for everyone. 

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bookreader17's review

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

4.0


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zc2's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted sad 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? Yes

4.75

I felt as though Persephone was always trying to retaliate against Hades and that part kinda got old. I was entirely shocked with the whole Lexa situation that was something else. I didn’t like Mr janitor guy from the beginning and didn’t know where his character was going. I’m still not the biggest fan of Luice though like when Antoni was like once a traitor always a traitor I was on edge from that point forward. 

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painausten314's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

2.0

I’m only giving this two stars for the good sex scenes but honestly there wasn’t even enough of that!! 

Persephone became wildly unlikable in this book and there were too many tragic events.

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kloughlin's review against another edition

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emotional sad 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? Yes

4.0


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