Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

65 reviews

n_odonnell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Confinement

lauravreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted tense 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? Yes

4.5

Auren is one of the most frustrating protagonist I’ve ever read. I understand that she experienced trauma, gaslighting,manipulation, and abuse. Leaving your abuser is so hard and I don’t want to make light of the situation she was in. However, in a work of fiction (especially fantasy) I love character growth and when the protagonist becomes badass. With Auren, her character growth is so slow and stagnate. I was quite frustrated. 

Also, what the fuck was the first sex scene with Slade? He pinched and pulled her clitoris?? Has Raven Kennedy ever rubbed one out? I was disgusted. It’s like describing a blow job with teeth scraping the shaft and calling it “hot”. 🤢🤮


 Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. While frustrated, I did enjoy seeing Auren slowly become more independent. I blew through this book it was so captivating. (Especially the last 20%) I was DEVASTATED during the Dew/Ribbon scene. And when she finally gave in to her power 😱🤩🥳. It was probably the best action scene I’ve read in a while. I literally cannot stop thinking about it. 

If she is not a 100% bad bitch by the end of Glow i’m fucking done with this series. 

Jk im too invested and will read what ever Kennedy puts out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Torture, and Physical abuse

Minor: Trafficking, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, War, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, and Domestic abuse

chaptersofamylea's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

‘You can’t cut off the strings of your puppet and still expect it to move for you.’

4 ⭐️ 

Hands down my favourite of the series so far, it felt gritty and I couldn’t put it down. Was it the best book I ever read? No. Was it entertaining as hell though? Yes. Having the MC get some character development in this book was everything I needed, I was rooting for them and totally here for her villain era (which I hope we see a lot more of!) I didn’t expect a few of the reveals and I’m shocked to say it makes me want to reread the series from the beginning to see if they were plotter throughout or if the knowledge makes me see the series differently. Still felt it could’ve had *more* and while I do like the romance element I’m not sold on it as everyone else seems to be. 

TWs: domestic abuse, controlling relationship, drugging, amputation as a form of punishment, ref to SA, graphic depictions and gore and violence 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

lynnette_reads's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery

shannon_magee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-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

2.0

Up until about 80% this book was reading as the best of the series so far (despite an aggressive amount of analogies in the writing that made it a struggle to read. You could tell they wanted to be lyrical and meaningful, perfect for a blurb or social media quote, but there were just too many of them and they were too extended, clunking up the narrative. The pace also seemed highly confused, which wound up contributing to a clunky narrative). Unfortunately, at around 84%, this book became a dumping ground for trauma porn. Extensive trauma porn, in an already unabashedly trauma-tastic series. And the payoff is never satisfying enough to make going through the gleefully awful events in this book worth it. Every time I read a book in this series, I’m excited by the potential of the premise and the characters, and every time the writing is overdone and the dramatics so heightened it just leaves be hollow and disappointed. I truly don’t understand why the romantasy community is so happy with this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Confinement, Bullying, Blood, Addiction, and Murder

mreno5's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

stacksandspecs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

bryelle's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is book three of the glint series. Auren does a lot of growing in this book. She is seeing her value and seeing that she needs to save herself. Auren is reunited with Midas and she start to see him for who he truly is. This book is long but worth it. Ends on another cliffhanger. 

Auren falls more in love with Slade. She gets to see both sides of him. Auren learns to use her gold power even when it is not day time. Slade has to rot her to save her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Torture, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Trafficking, Stalking, and Infertility

hannahs_library__'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is easily the best book in the series and the writing has improved with each book. These characters have my entire heart 💖

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse

imogen_reads_books's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, and Emotional abuse