Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

15 reviews

rasbneon's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

ofmeganreads's review against another edition

It was too much yes and no. The I hate you and the Oh his eyes and that I want you. I don't like the sexual content. I always skip pages, but this just felt like horny characters that don't know how to control themselves and have a civilized conversation. Plus, the gruesome history of the kingdom is too much to handle. It just isn't a book for me and I normally enjoy fantasy novels with enemies to lovers. This book is a walking disaster of triggers that I couldn't continue reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Confinement, Cursing, Kidnapping, Blood, Body horror, War, Death of parent, Body shaming, Genocide, Child abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

toastyghosty13's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

This book was fun to read. The relationships and interactions between characters are absolutely pretty toxic and abusive, but I was able to get over that because it's a fake fantasy world and it was not bad enough for me to dislike the shenanigans of this book/series. Obviously YMMV.

I enjoyed learning a bit more about the overarching conspiracy behind the vamprys and the maiden's role in the ascension. There is still a lot more to uncover and unpack, and for that reason I will probably continue with the series. I have heard that the next book is the start of the end/downfall, so we'll see if I make it further than that. 

Negative points for me were the cheesiness of the romance plot. It started to feel like the romance portion was equal parts of the content as the main plot lines, which is not really my thing. It started to feel like a bit too much, although it was still fun and I liked the wit and back and forth between Poppy and Casteel. The part that was a bit bleh for me was

the whole wedding plan. The idea was that they would enter a fake marriage in order to protect Poppy from danger, even though it was obviously because Casteel has feelings for Poppy and just doesn't want to admit it. Poppy also has feelings for Casteel, but does not want to admit it because she is upset at herself for still caring for him after his many questionable choices and actions. They both try to pass it off as something purely physical, although they admit to each other a few times that it's more than that. I found this a bit annoying because it became repetitive in their interactions where they would fight and then fuck or fuck and then fight about their jealousy. I am not against this trope, but we got too much of it and sometimes it's a good thing to be left wanting more.

Normally I would get a bit bored/annoyed of this much spice taking up the pages, but

it did not bother me as much because I felt like it aligned with the context of Poppy and her background, being raised as a maiden who was isolated and could not enjoy even the most simple aspects of life like walking outside. I feel like it makes sense that she would go absolutely feral for Casteel at any given moment now that she can make her own choices and has a dude that has reciprocated feelings for her right in front of her. That being said, I would have rather learned more about the main plot lines and have more time in Atlantia.

I probably will not start the next book immediately since I feel like I need a bit of a breather, plus I have other books to finish. I do plan on at least reading the next one since the main conspiracy plot line is really interesting to me and this book ended on a bit of a twist (even though it was something I predicted after like chapter 8). I do want to find out more about this world and the topic of Ascension, the sleeping gods, and what Poppy's role is in this world that makes her so special to be the Chosen one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, War, Violence, Murder, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Child death, and Classism

iggylizard's review

This book is nothing more than traveling and poorly written smut. More than once there is non-consensual sexual relations. The characters have no development. They’re insipid, boring, and horny. There is no plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Body shaming, and Rape

thecatconstellation's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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

4.0

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first one, but I did still enjoy it. There are certain parts that felt a bit too drawn out and there are certain things that get repeated too often (gee I wonder what Cas smells like?). But I do mostly like the characters (many more than Poppy and Cas) and I do enjoy the plot. Medium pace fantasy novel with a decent spice level. Interested to see if the third one bounces back for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, War, Sexual content, Blood, and Confinement

Moderate: Death of parent, Cursing, Body shaming, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, and Vomit

cassie12_21's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny medium-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

3.5

I’m low-key disturbed, and I also have no idea what this plot is; however, I can’t stop reading it, so….

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, and Toxic relationship

clapyourshands's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Cursing, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, Murder, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Classism, and Child death

abipereira's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

If I were not so busy with school, this book would have been finished in a day or two!

I don't know how she did it, but this was better than the first book. I was hooked from the beginning of the first sentence. I highly recommend that you purchase all books at one time because now I don't know what to do with myself. 

I did have to read the last chapter twice... but thats on me; I stayed up until 4am to finish the book. LOL I suggest to stop reading when all the words are blending together. 

I can't wait to read the next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

Minor: Emotional abuse, War, Grief, Cursing, Bullying, and Blood

hannalizzy's review

adventurous dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Half the book I was screaming at the main character in my head to get over herself and fall in love, and the other half  I spent relishing in the SWEET GOODNESS OF HER ADMITTING IT! We get SO much world building  in this book that give the characters and relationships so much depth and complexity. Because it’s so freaking long too, I feel like I know every thought that goes through their heads. I fell in love with each character so much more in this book because of that depth we get. And the ending? Jaw. Dropping. The best fantasy book I’ve read so far. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Torture, and War

Minor: Bullying, Child death, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

kellicat94's review

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

Minor: Abandonment, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Pregnancy