Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

40 reviews

sam019's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.75

What a great series! Hate that the last two books aren't out yet. I read these books to take me out of my reading slump but I'm afraid I'm about to go right back into my slump. This series has everything, adventure, magic, fantasy, lovable caracters, brutality, tension, romance you name it. Love that the main character isn't dependent on the men in the series aswell, they play very important roles, but she grows and ultimately relies on her self for safety and her own personal growth. Love it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

kinsportch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual content, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcohol

caittschida's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Addiction

georgiaisreading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Torture

baexlee's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

This book was an improvement in some regards and a downgrade in others, the story was more complex and truly felt like it’s own book whereas the first two felt like a single book split in half. There was actually a notable climax to the story that carried through to a cliffhanger that could certainly convince a reader to come back. 

My problem lies primarily with loose ends and poorly managed plots/power explanations. Auren is a very cool character, but Kennedy’s description of her magic is inconsistent. In this installment it is a very prevalent plot point that ANYTHING Auren touches with her bare skin during the day will turn gold, however this is not accurate to the lore written in the second book and her life in the military camp. There were a few other things that just didn’t line up, or were waved away rather than being explained in the lore of the world. I hated the perspective of Malina and overall felt it set up an irrelevant and boring plotline that could have been easily introduced without spending chapters in an alternate character perspective, especially if the next book is heading the direction I think it might be. Overall it wasn’t a horrible read but I found myself slogging through it at the end and I am doubtful that I will pick up the next installment. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Rape

maziodynes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

Absolutely amazing. The push and pull between Auren trying to placate Midas while also standing up to him and secretly rebelling was so satisfying to watch. Her growth in this book was compelling. The climax was so PAINFUL and suspensful that I stayed up late just to finish it. What a satisfying book. My favorite of the trio. 

Aurip's relationship really encompassed everything I want in a romance. The fierce loyalty, respect, and passion they share was spot on. His encouragement and support for her when she was feeling the lingering effects of trauma was lovely. Juxtaposed with Midas getting worse and worse, and Auren finally realizing the full extent of how badly he treated her - masterfully done!

My ONLY critique is that the author often uses "male" instead of "man", which made the writing feel jilted at times (and wasn't something I noticed as much in the previous books). But like, it's fine. 

CWs: 

non consensual drugging and torture.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, and Murder

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

abby_spilk's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• 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: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Drug abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Pregnancy, and Trafficking

hopscotchtohell's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, and Torture

Minor: Addiction and Drug abuse

happily_undignified's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

The third installment in The Plated Prisoner Series was amazing! I absolutely loved the new friendships Auren made and the old ones she fought for. We learn the cruel depths of King Midas's villainous heart and see the full power of our golden fierce female lead. Parts of the story were intense and hard to stomach but the character development and twists revealed towards the end made it worth it. I absolutely love this adult fantasy series!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Addiction and Sexual content

joannatav's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence