Reviews tagging 'Blood'

These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan

14 reviews

kiwij96's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

This book might actually be the worst book I've ever read. It took me a whole week to read (and I read Priory of the Orange Tree in less time). The absolute lack of a plot until like 300 pages in was honestly painful. The first 300 pages was like every "male" (🤢) telling Brie that she was so gorgeous and that they wanted to kiss her or have sex with her. The lack of consent in this book is outrageous considering that this is a YA romantasy, what is this teaching young people? All the male love interests were just vile. Sebastian being a manipulative gaslighter, Misha being a player, and Finn giving mixed signals all the time. Story literally could have been like 200 pages shorter if you took out all of Brie's internal conflicts and monologues.

Then there was the "oh my god, the children are in danger. Quick, let's participate in a fertility festival and let me gift you a house on the way to see a Priestess who can fix all this". Full offence, but where was the urgency? Then a plot twist finally springs up on around the 300th page, and it finally got interesting. But by this point, I was so sick of every character, and reading Brie's perspective that I just wanted to set fire to the book itself. I persevered and it got me absolute nothing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Torture

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Blood, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, and Death

Minor: Sexual content

lilhappyhermit's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

This was a beautiful conclusion to this duology. The character arc Brie, Finn and Sebastian have throughout all of the trials and tribulations of this story were so well done and left me feeling so full and content. Brie accepting all facets of herself and acknowledging her previous thoughts as wrong and proving through action her want to do right by her people was such a beautiful experience. I absolutely loved this book and the conclusion to the trials these characters faced throughout these two books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Gore, Violence, and Kidnapping

louisepea's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Confinement, and Cursing

Minor: Torture, Violence, Blood, and War

rinku's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content

Moderate: War, Slavery, and Gore

Minor: Death of parent

smuttymcbookface's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.5

I found this enjoyable to read, even if just to wrap up the story, but I did find myself overlooking some flaws despite my enjoyment.

Pros:

• Interesting and easy to follow plot
• A love triangle where the other man is not an unredeemable villain
• Some sweet and tender moments mixed in
• Any interactions with Misha, since he was hilarious

Cons

• Too quickly and conveniently wrapped up
• Both MMCs lost their character/individuality
• There was too much cheesiness/corniness in some of the romantic scenes
• The amount of fishing and reassurance required by Brie in the romance scenes were ridiculous - especially since she gave nothing back in comparison
• The power and Fae abilities of the main characters (Brie, Misha, Finn) felt inconsistent and underdeveloped
• The early dialog scenes were too long, particularly when contrasted with quick wrapped-up-in-a-bow ending
• Much more minor than the other points, but I hated the use of "male" when Brie described the love interests - left me a little icky even though I know it was trying to diffentiate them as fae

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Blood, Death, Child abuse, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual content

bookboxbabe's review

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.0

-1 star because she didn’t end up with the guy i wanted

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Blood, and Sexual content

kbairbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

I love it, I love it, I love it. I feel so rejuvenated! I couldn’t put this down, I was reading it every second I could and just… freaking loved it. So fun, sexy, magical, enchanting. I think the only thing I’m upset about is that it seems wrapped up lol I want more! I’m feeling a sense of loss that I don’t have more story surroundings these characters! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Torture, Toxic friendship, Classism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Grief, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, War, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Miscarriage

leila_reads_too_much's review against another edition

adventurous 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

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder

cady_sass's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Very pleasantly surprised. Same as the first it’s a tad repetitive to the point where it’s almost offensive to the reader but ultimately a fun time. Fun duology, no regrets. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Confinement, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Body horror

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: War, Blood, Drug use, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol and Fire/Fire injury