Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

53 reviews

purely_romantic's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death of parent

Minor: Grief

Detailed descriptions of anxiety and intrusive thoughts sometimes leading to panic attacks

wonderingintothevoid's review against another edition

emotional

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Ableism and Mental illness

Minor: Ableism and Mental illness

kimschouwenaar's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

3.25

Is the story plausible? Not exactly.

Is it historically accurate? Probably not.

Is it enjoyable? Yes, but I will not be re-reading, and this has not become one of my favourite reads.

Besides the fact that I just could not connect to the two main characters, the pacing is off. Some scattered moments were exciting, but overall I was a little bored. Then there is the wording and dialogue, which was a peculiar mix of historical and modern speech. For some it might work, but for me it was confusing. 

Additionally, I simply do not understand why in such a seemingly modern and advanced society, there is such an ignorance towards mental health issues. There are multiple characters using neo-pronouns (a fact I absolutely ADORE), they seem to have equal rights for men and women, and the sultan is a woman with a new-born (!!!!) (Zeliha and Eyne were an absolutely delightful addition to the story). Also, there was an aro-ace character that uses çe/çem/çir!

It could have been great, but to me it wasn’t. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Blood, Violence, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gore

Moderate: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, and Grief

discarded_dust_jacket's review

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

3.25

This was a beautiful story. I have such a soft spot for serious, measured, bodyguard-type love interests. And I’m not someone who suffers from panic attacks, but I thought the depictions of Kadou’s anxiety disorder were handled well. 

This is entirely personal preference, but I would’ve liked if the pacing of the romance was a bit quicker. I understand it’s a slow burn, but this was a SLOOWWWWW burn, lol. Again, totally personal preference. It was still a joy to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Confinement, Drug use, and Kidnapping

isenil97's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders

itsnotalakeitsanocean's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful 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

3.5

I originally rated this at 4 stars but after some reflection I bumped it down to 3.5.

Pros

• I could relate very well to Kadou's panic attacks - especially the fatigue that comes afterwards and engaging in small but not overtly noticeable self-destructive behaviours
• Evemer is now one of my favourite comically serious characters in fiction. His journey of self-discovery and self-actualisation was a good chunk of the reason I kept reading tbh
• I forget the exact name of the gender identity used but I liked the inclusion of non binary people as characters

Cons

• The plot stopped towards the end to focus on the romance and wrapped up too easily compared to conflict earlier in the book
• I don't really like how there wasn't a solid breakup between Tadek and Kadou, they just kind of... stopped being lovers/friends with benefits
• Was a bit dense and wordy at the beginning which made it a bit of a struggle to get into but I loved the characters enough to persevere

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Violence, Death, and Sexual content

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

tofi_15's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Grief, Violence, and Death

Minor: Sexual content

pvbobrien's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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: Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexual content and Death

bookishwondergoth's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful slow-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

I loved this book SO so muuuuuuuuuuuuch, RTC!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Bullying, and Confinement

dododenise's review against another edition

slow-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 was exactly my taste. It’s been a while since I took my time and just cherished the book I am reading but I simply didn’t want this book to end.

The story is almost entirely character focused and I loved that. The plot, including politics, mysteries, violence and betrayal served only the characters. Because of that the plot itself wasn’t revolutionary. Instead, there was so much care put into the characters. 

It was a delicious slow burn, with so much yearning and pining. Getting so close to getting together and then pulling apart again and it just pulled at my heartstrings with them. There were so many tender moments between them. The book took its time on long conversation and really developing the characters and their relationships. This was a slow burn perfectly executed. And added to that, a wonderful cast of side characters that I have also learned to adore, including a nonbinary aro ace character who I obviously was a fan of. But all of them found a place in my heart.

Just give me hundreds of books like this and I will be happy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Mental illness, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Animal death

Minor: Pregnancy and Grief