Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons

19 reviews

gummiefox's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

this book is complicated, but i loved it! one of the few that i feel the need to go back and reread immediately after finishing it. i'll definitely have to reread it before i start the next in the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Murder, Domestic abuse, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual content, and Alcohol

rainbowcircus's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

4.25

I've read other reviews for this book and whole I understand it may not be for everyone I had a fantastic time. Kihrin is a fun MC to follow and learn about his story and the way the narrative is presented makes it easy to follow along.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Domestic abuse

meg_leigh's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This book was recommended to me as "Game of Thrones but without the gratuitous gore and violence against women/children). That person and I must have different definitions of "gratuitous." 

It was also just so freaking hard to follow what was happening. I thought it was me but reviews show I'm not alone. I'm curious what happens in the next book, but I don't think I'm curious enough to delve back into this world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Animal death, Death, Child death, Sexual assault, Rape, Child abuse, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Slavery, and Violence

Minor: Incest and Homophobia

noshakira's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

Excellent world-building and intricate storyline. The dual perspectives of the story adds a unique element. I ordered the second book when I was about halfway done with this one because I knew I'd love the remaining story. 

The only difficulty is that some names can be hard to pronounce (as with most fantasy novels) and keep straight, as many are similar or characters go by multiple names for differing reasons, so it's easy to get confused and I'd have to continually remind myself who was who.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Confinement, Murder, Death, Classism, Violence, and War

Moderate: Grief, Child abuse, Trafficking, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Incest, Infidelity, and Kidnapping

mysimas's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

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

2.5

If the lines ‘Luke, I am your father.’ and ‘You’re a wizard, Harry.’ ever banged and had a child, it would be this book. 90% of the plot and twists are revelations of this kind except with little to no build up, it’s honestly so over the top it could be satire.

Another thing that irked me was the total absence of mystery. Everything was revealed straight away. Oh, so this person actually isn’t this guy’s mom? Huh, who could the real mom be — oh, the author tells us on the next page, okay. Ohh, and this person might actually be someone completely different? I wonder who — oh okay, I see. And so on and so forth.

Awarding stars for some good scenes (loved the kraken fight) and also the strange and addictive readability. I never like flashbacks… But here, literally 80% of the book was flashbacks (more if you count the asterisk notes), and for some reason it was ok. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Child abuse, Trafficking, Violence, Confinement, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

ruthlessreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Lots of things I loved about this book, including the world building and the interesting magic system. However, I’m always filled with distaste when systems of slavery are present, regardless of whether or not the text condemns it (this one does condemn it). The plot of this book is largely dependent on these systems of slavery and it was hard to enjoy the book for that reason. I gave 2 stars purely for the talent of the writer, which shines through at every turn, and the quality of the actual syntax. That said, the content just didn’t do it for me and idk that I’d read another book by this author. Also, not nearly enough dragons for a book with a giant dragon on the front. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Classism, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Cursing

Minor: Incest, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship

anni_swanilda's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gore, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Kidnapping, Blood, Body horror, Alcohol, and Incest

Minor: Rape

bookbelle5_17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

Review of Ruin of Kings

By: Jenn Lyons

            There is a prophecy about Kihrin, but instead being a savior of this world, he might be the destroyer. The long-lost son of the noble house D’Mon, Kihrin is fighting his family legacy and his destiny.

The narrative framework of this unique with three characters narrating the story for the reading.  It is recording of an event that happens in this world and the person recording providing footnotes that are funny and informative at the same time.  He gives us facts that Kihrin or the other characters might not know.  The book starts with Kihrin in prison claiming he’s bored, and his captor Talon shape-shifter type creature suggests he tell her the story of his life. He begins, but she stops him, not liking where he starts, and because she can see inside his head, she tells his story from the point she thinks he should have start.  The story goes back and forth between the two different parts of Kihrin.  It did take me some time to get into, but this framework provides a fun way to tell story once I got into the story.  I adored these complex characters, but there was one that I absolutely hate, Darzin.  The dragons were awesome and “the old man” was fun and scary at the same time.  He was so abusive and controlling and he made a terrifying villain as he was also unpredictable.  The world building was great, and the magic system has a bit mystery to it.  Though, the reincarnation aspect made the family tree confusing and there is some incest.  This is a great first book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Slavery, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Incest and Panic attacks/disorders

bookaquarius's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Rape

szuum's review against another edition

dark medium-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? No

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Homophobia, Torture, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Infidelity, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Incest, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content and Gore