Reviews tagging 'Grief'

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

103 reviews

jennipea382's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Gaslighting, Torture, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Confinement, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and War

selestre's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Body shaming

Minor: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Child death, Death of parent, Medical content, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

dlsmk's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Death, Grief, Animal death, Kidnapping, Body shaming, Child death, Death of parent, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual assault

goldenleafbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Physical abuse, Murder, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Confinement, Classism, Mental illness, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Colonisation, Gore, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Stalking

Minor: Pregnancy

courtneylmal's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent, Body shaming, Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Child death

luna_lovelace's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

I am at a loss for words about where to begin with this book because it has left me in utter awe. The plot development is so intricate that I couldn't help but get lost in the story. The author throws a lot of information at you, but as the story progresses, the pace picks up, and the story becomes more engaging. 

There are also a lot of crumbs throughout the book which gave me an idea of what would happen next. Although some aspects of the story were predictable, I found it satisfying when I guessed correctly! There were also moments when I was caught off guard by unexpected twists and turns,

such as the murders of some of the most likable characters.

It is a slow-burning romance, making it all the more satisfying when the characters finally come together. The author has also thrown in an enemies-to-lovers plot, adding an extra layer of complexity to the romance.

Poppy, is a force to be reckoned with. She is charming, strong-willed, and knows her way around a dagger! I found myself becoming more and more invested in her story as the book progressed. I could see why Hawke falls for her, despite his rough exterior. Hawke is a gray character and complex

with a heartbreaking backstory that explains his motivation to save his brother.

Reading this book was an emotional rollercoaster, and I cannot wait to read the next one! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Sexual content, Death, Grief, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Cursing, and Child death

Minor: Forced institutionalization

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

0.25

What was that ending?

This book started out pretty shaky BUT I was won over by the amazing work of the narrator. She had a way of narrating things so that the banter and characters flowed in a way that the prose didn’t. I will also credit the book with the fact that Poppy felt like an 18-year-old girl scrabbling for control in her own life. The themes and exploration of them was interesting. Poppy’s character lent to these themes and it was fairly well done. Aside from that, the foreshadowing as fairly well done.

What really tanked this book for me was the last quarter of the book roughly. While it was declining slightly before the twist was revealed, that’s what destroyed the book for me. Everything about the characters and who they were felt like it vanished. Their actions stopped making sense and while I thought some changes after the reveal of the twist were well some, most didn’t. I stopped understanding Poppy and her actions. I found myself so frustrated with her and what she was doing that it tanked the book for me.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Cursing, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Grief, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Murder, Confinement, Physical abuse, Gore, and Torture

Minor: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Child death, and Child abuse

cdoubet's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Genocide, Bullying, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Physical abuse, Addiction, Death, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Medical content

Minor: Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

adamagoesit_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This story blew my mind. It was twists and turns from the first chapter until the last. It follows Poppy and her life of being a Maiden within the Kingdom while being trained to defend herself by her main guard, Vikter. Throughout, she has multiple guards that watch and escort her to and from areas of the castle in order to ensure her safety. That is until she meets Hawke, everything changes. 

Poppy is truly a multi-faceted queen who is a teeeeeny bit reckless when it comes to her wants and passions. The trainings she has had to endure in order to becoming worthy for the Gods All of this is in preperation for her ascension. So, how did we end up at the brothel in the first chapter do you say? Well, you’re gonna have to stick around to find out.

I love being in Poppy’s brain and understanding how her mind works throughout this journey. The people who have saved her time and time again has made her grow in ways that molds her intuition. Understanding what does she want for herself out of this life. The story is fast-paced and will keep you on your toes. Amazing story-telling and the world building gradually develops as you dive into the story. I highly recommend it and it is also an ongoing series! I actually can’t wait to dive into the next book. 

5/5 💫

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Violence, Abandonment, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Death

lizzyspooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death

Moderate: Confinement and Grief