Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Raven King by Nora Sakavic

103 reviews

nikoops's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

As with the rest of this series, it’s hard to describe. The characters are engaging, the plot, ridiculous, and the writing decent. This might make it sound like you shouldn’t read it, and honestly? Despite the 5/5 stars, you probably shouldn’t. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Violence

The Raven King picks up exactly where The Foxhole Court ends. The story remains in Neil’s POV, starting with the Foxes spending Halloween all together; it becomes apparent that it was definitely Riko behind Seth’s untimely death; however, with Seth gone, the team does seem to start to work together more cohesively on the court. They start to rank up wins, and there is hope for them to make it to the semifinals. Things start to go downhill when Nicky’s family invites him and the twins home for Thanksgiving. The invitation comes with the directions that the twins have to come or else Nicky cannot go. Desperate to see his family again and hopefully reconcile their differences, Nicky asks Neil to get Andrew to agree to go. Neil does, but not for Thanksgiving; Nicky’s family is accommodating. The meal comes with an unexpected and devastating surprise—they have invited Drake (Andrew’s former brother to be, had he been adopted by the Spears), and he is waiting upstairs secretly for Andrew. Luther (Nicky’s father) tricks Andrew into going upstairs where he is knocked over the head with a bottle by Drake and assaulted. Neil suspects Andrew is in trouble, when Luther mentions Drake, and goes upstairs with Aaron to see. They wind up breaking down the door to find Andrew being assaulted, Aaron winds up killing Drake. Aaron is arrested for the murder, but is allowed back until his trial due to Matt’s mother posting bail. Betsy makes the choice to have Andrew go off his meds due to the circumstances, which requires him going to Easthaven for 24/hr supervision as he comes off them. During this all, the team grows closer still as the team decides to stick together as often as possible—Aaron also gets to spend time with his girlfriend Katelyn. At the Christmas banquet, Riko tells Neil that he has to come to Evermore for winter break—he threatens Andrew’s safety should Neil refuse. Neil, of course, agrees to this, and is subjected to torture for the entirety of winter break. He returns to Palametto unsure of how he got there, with new scars, his natural eye and hair color back, and a four tattooed on his cheek. He calls Wymack for help, and reveals some more truth to him, the book ends on him wondering how their season will go, and how he will survive it.

kcolt97's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Addiction

enkeli190's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Mental illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Self harm, Drug use, and Alcohol

riv_erb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Drug use, and Homophobia

Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Hate crime, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Self harm, and Sexual violence

abelh's review

dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual content, Bullying, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Self harm, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Torture, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Violence, Grief, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts

valenca2023's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Alcohol, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Mental illness

elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Toxic friendship, Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Death, Cursing, Child abuse, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Drug use, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

luilesa's review against another edition

5.0

Best thing after ToG I have ever read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Car accident, Medical content, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use

lennie_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

Please don't expect a coherent review because this is mostly overtired babbling but anyway...

If you think the first book is dark then oh boy do I have news for you!

The thing with these books is that despite the spelling / grammar mistakes, being confusing to read, the fact that it could probably do with an editor all fall by the wayside when stacked against wanting to know what happens to these damaged characters. 
Seeing the mysteries of their lives unfolding, the horrific incidents they've been through / go through, the constant tension of when they'll 'go too far' just absolutely grab hold of you. Or they did for me anyway!
I read almost all of this book in one day; I stayed up until 2am last night to finish it. 

And christ there are some horrible disturbing scenes in this book. But all I can think about is that I wish I had today off to read the last book 😅 
What sorcery is this?? 

CW: violence, blood, vomit, rape, child abuse, paedophilia, toxic relationships, death, murder, kidnapping, torture, forced medication, drugs, alcohol, homophobia, religious 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Rape, Addiction, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, and Vomit

cait's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious 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

Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, Abandonment, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship