Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee

8 reviews

natashareadsbooks's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.0

So, I have been in a huge book slump for weeks & I have been picking up and putting down books - and even DNFing books trying to find something to hold my attention. 

I was recommended A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows. 

It follows Adara who is star blessed. But she cannot help but feel it is a curse. Her whole life she had been promised to one man, all because of the markings on her skin from birth, and her blood that will supposedly strengthen the power of whoever has it. Betrothed to the Crowned Fae Prince. But that was never a life she wanted. 

And it didn't help that she had feelings for another. The Fae Prince's brother and Captain of the guard. 

Torn between her duty and her desires - she must decide what fate she may survive. And if she chooses wrong it's more than just the kingdom that will crumble - but her heart too. 

So this is a fantasy world of fae and magic. It is a short, quick read- that immediately throws you into this dark and magical world. It is not heavy on the world building, but does have strong, resilient characters. There is some plot that moves the story along - but it is mostly the characters & their desires. And there is definitely smut. 

I would have loved a little more info into the magic & fantasy world, but overall it was a good read. It was a quick read that left you wanting more - more of the characters & to find out what happens next. 

4⭐ out of 5⭐. 

4🌶️ out of 5🌶️ - sex in detail throughout the book & is part of the plot 

Tropes: 

→ fantasy romance /romantasy 

→ enemies to lovers 

→ forced Proximity 

→ arranged marriage 

→ forbidden romance

→ love triangle 

→ one horse

→ touch her & 💀

→ shadow daddy 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Blood, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Death of parent

elskede's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Death, Alcohol, Violence, Murder, Blood, Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Gaslighting

afternoonreader23's review

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Rape, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse

booksalacarte's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, and Classism

margaret_k30's review

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

Don't bother reading this. Apart from finding several typos, this book was also not well written. The characters were contradicting themselves at each turn. There was barely any plot and no development of actually personalities. The treatment of the main character is literally just abusive and there are no redeeming qualities to her either. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Abandonment

crinkledmochi's review

adventurous dark fast-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? It's complicated

3.0

The inspiration for this is very obvious but was also somewhat entertaining so I didn’t mind I guess. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Body horror, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

cryosphinx's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

A good quick read that I finished in less than a day, a bit predictable (especially if you've read something like FBAA or WLBTV) but still enjoyable. I'm very invested and will read the rest of the trilogy and the spice is 🔥🔥🔥 (of which there is plenty). Plus, I'm a sucker for fated mates, one bed, one horse, enemies to lovers romp and thank you for providing that!

The character building was shallow, especially so for anyone besides the FMC and MMC who still had minimal fleshing out. Since it was on the shorter side, everything moves very quickly along so there also isn't a ton of world building outside your basic "she's a such-and-such of importance, there's fae, there's vampires." 

I can sum it up as "come for the spice, don't stay if you want world building or full character development."

It did what it needed which is providing a quick break in the middle of another heavier book and this fit the bill and I still had a good time reading it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Minor: Gaslighting and Confinement

readsbyrach's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Murder