Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Zły król by Holly Black

240 reviews

smcrain's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Now I know not every book is gonna speak to everyone but this one really hits the right notes for me. Idk maybe it's because I was really not sure what to expect from this series. I'm not gonna lie; ever since True Blood and honestly maybe longer, Fae/Faeries have not been my thing. I don't really actively go looking for those stories; I was way more into knights, dragons and elves. Suffice it to say, I was kind of dragging my feet about reading this one. But I finally started a few days ago and boy did I get sucked right in. I think being completely new to fae fiction gives this series an advantage over me. I know there's SO many out there now, but for me this is the first I've read, and I'm really loving the land of Elfhame. I'm so intrigued by the weird rules and the love the cunning Jude displays while operating within them. 

I still love Jude, but this follows the format of a second installment in a trilogy, where our heroes go through some tough times and trials. And boy does she ever this book. She makes lots of mistakes, and at times I was frustrated, but honestly the twists and turns just kept coming. I could hardly come up for air for want of finding out what was going to happen next. This one was definitely a book I lost sleep over due to the ever infamous "one more chapter" mentality. Cardan comes into his own a bit more in this book, especially at the end. Honestly he's such a conundrum for me, I dislike his personality, but at the same time I'm basic and he's hot so I'm giving him a lot of leeway all the time. He does exhibit and get more backstory and wit/craftiness this book so he's at least earning some of my attraction outside of just superficially loving anyone described as dark haired, gorgeous and the usual that will have me ready to lick them. The ending is def an OMG/WTF moment. I have never been SO glad I do not have to wait a year or more before I'm able to pick up the next book and find out the conclusion to this story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Torture

Minor: Blood and Sexual content

erins_bookshelf_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

oh my god the ending was insane and i need to get the next book right now i’m so serious 
i liked the first book but this one felt like it was on another level with all of the politics and the twists, everything was just so good i loved it 
it started out a bit slow but i was still invested so it was fine :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Torture and Death

Minor: Sexual content, War, and Vomit

fraugremlin's review against another edition

adventurous medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Bullying, Violence, Classism, War, Alcohol, and Blood

bean67's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Man, although the first book of the folk of air trilogy is my fave. This one managed to even get me more interested in the overall story and plot. I really liked that the reader also found out more about Cardan's sad and tragic past. His and Jude's dynamic were just as good maybe even better than in the cruel prince. They are really my fave book couple to ever exist. Holly Black really did the trope enemies to lovers wonderfully.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death, and Gore

Minor: Cannibalism

takarakei'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
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Girlie pop really can't trust anyone.

Some pacing issues in this one that made parts a bit slow. But there were some iconic scenes between Cardan and Jude. This shit truly is real enemies to lovers, and I ate that up.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit and Alcohol

diana_raquel's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Sexism, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, War, Gore, Death, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Sexual content

daenerystargaryen's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Kidnapping, Confinement, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Child abuse, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Sexual violence

Minor: Vomit and Suicidal thoughts

orakuruno's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Now this is an enemies to lovers

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, War, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Blood, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Drug use, Bullying, Violence, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Gore

Minor: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Trafficking, Torture, and Slavery

itzme's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Vomit, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: Torture

2blueshoes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

After a first book so mind bogglingly horrifying, I surprised myself by truly enjoying this sequel. The Cruel Prince felt like a sort of nightmarish junior high, where love isn’t real, everyone is miserable, and no one wins. The Wicked King felt a bit like high school, with characters finding their footing, and forging real relationships - and of course the stakes are much higher. 

Yes, the FMC is still deeply un relatable to me, and her choices made me want to pull my hair out in frustration. 

Yes, all of the characters continue to operate so far beyond morally grey areas they are all difficult to root for. 

And yet, somehow in the midst of the ever-more-complicated political schemes and endless list of confusing character names… I found myself loving this story. The plot twists were plentiful and intelligently written (I guessed exactly one). There was such steep character development that the FMC and MMC became entirely different people. There was relationship angst, but it was elegant rather than despicable. There was exactly one spicy scene and it was fade to black. The MMC’s tail wasn’t mentioned, praise be. 

 If you don’t care much for back story or world building, read a synopsis of book one and jump to book two. It will absolutely have you on the edge of your seat - or in my case - yelling “OMG” loudly in the car. 

I will immediately read book three. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Torture

Minor: Bullying, Gore, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Vomit, War, Death of parent, Medical content, Slavery, and Suicide