Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten

9 reviews

callistag1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

Minor: Religious bigotry

mandersdraws's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

Ugh I need to read it again!! I feel like Hemlock Queen gets off to a sluggish (and maybe a little depressing) start, with the protagonist taking a passive role for a few chapters, but the action and tension really ramped up quickly. It wove a bunch of loose threads together from the first book into an intricate and rich tapestry, and it gave me even more ancient mysteries to think on while I wait for the next one!

I really love how the protagonist’s powers and relationship to the religion of the world allows us to peek into the ancient past. I love how it explores the fallibility of people, and of divine figures. I love that it calls into question the motives of the people writing our laws, our bibles.

And oh, I really fucking love the tragic romance. (I especially love the very real possibility of a “completed” love triangle here, my new One True Threesome). I love how tender some of the spicy scenes are. This shit is right up my alley!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Violence, Gore, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Classism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Misogyny, Colonisation, Rape, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and War

Mental illness tag because while it’s related to the fantasy elements of the book, the protagonist hears voices. That and possession are big topics of the book. Also warning for dissociation.

jennn_3'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Gore

Moderate: Death

maddiementions's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Cursing, Body horror, Gore, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Animal death

Moderate: Classism

soniajoy98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, War, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Sexism, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Drug use, Torture, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement

bookboxbabe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-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

i’m not emotionally okay because wtf?? HELLO?? 

rude

in all seriousness though, i loved this. it has slight middle book syndrome in the fact that there were some filler moments and the first 50% was kind of slow and boring at times, but the payoff was so worth it!!

give me book 3 now please and thanks

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

abeautifulshelf's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Sexual content

adancewithbooks's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

  Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway. 

The Hemlock Queen is the sequel to The Foxglove King, a book I enjoyed a lot last year. At the end of that first book Bastian has become king and, going against prophecy, Lore still lives. In this sequel we continue on with how they are faring afterwards. Because of course that was not the end. 

We start shortly after the ending of the first book. Bastian is king, Lore is next to his side while Gabe is now head of the guards. But something seems to be off. Bastian seems to be off. And Lore is hearing a voice in her head. Everything in her shouts that they should stop channelling mortem. But Bastian keeps pushing. The gods, their gods, seemed to want to make a reappearance into real life. 

After having read this book, I'm not sure how I feel about it. The book started of very slow and at 33% I was getting a little bored. The set-up of this book is incredibly slow and while I understand that when it comes to the base plot of showing the decay of Bastian, something more could have been happening here. 

Partially this is because Lore is very hands off in this book. While in the first book she was very active and forward. She is passive and unsure of her place in court. People are gossiping that she is in Bastian's bed. She isn't but they share appartments. I can understand what she is coming from. Her life was never easy and her first time at court was hard. Now she is at court and has all the luxury and safety she can ask for. But it doesn't make for a great read when our main character isn't really responding to any of the signs around her. She is worried a lot of the time but nowhere does she take action or share her worries with others. Yet she feels affronted when her 'friends' didn't trust her or share any of their worries with her. 

The plot idea in itself is fine but the execution leaves some to be desired. Its not a bad book either. I still read through the last 50% rather quickly. I was still invested up to a certain point. I'm still looking forward to the third book, and I hope that the execution of the story picks up again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Gore, Death, and Violence

readwithria's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

HOLY SHIT

The Foxglove King was one of my favorite books of 2023, and now The Hemlock Queen is one of my favorite books of 2024. This was my most anticipated book of the year, and it didn’t disappoint ONE BIT!

As usual, Hannah Whitten’s prose was absolutely beautiful. I highlighted so many quotes, and was on the edge of my seat the entire book. The writing and the world are so lush, I cannot get enough of them.

And let’s not forget the CHARACTERS! I love Lore and Bastian and Gabe, and I also love all the side characters and how complex they are. They really add a sense of depth to the world, and  are a reminder that other things are still happening even when we aren’t paying attention to them at the moment.

I absolutely cannot WAIT to read the last book of the series. It’s incredible, and everyone should read these books. 5 stars.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy and providing me the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Sexual content, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Death, Violence, and Gun violence

Minor: Religious bigotry and Alcohol