Reviews tagging 'Murder'

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

22 reviews

vanillatwilights's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Violence and Murder

the prince spends the first third of the book with undiagnosed severe anxiety and panic disorders that andbthere is recounting of no less than three severe episodes, which result in bad decision making. It is heavy and most focused on in the first 3rd if the book; the political intrigue in the last two thirds takes over center focus after a few key confidante are made aware of the prince's mental health issues and he is supported.

ceruleanseas's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use

Minor: Grief

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

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Minor: Classism, Confinement, Cursing, and Animal death

alxjasper's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

Really good character relationships and tension but not very strong narratively.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder, Cursing, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

thecatconstellation's review

adventurous 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

4.25

I love the anxiety rep & the gender and sexuality rep. Cuuuuteeee relationship. Decent plot. 

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Blood, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, War, and Pregnancy

vivavia's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Kidnapping, Chronic illness, Classism, Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual content, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

onemamareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/a-taste-of-gold-and-iron

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, Alcohol, Death, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

mateyy's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

5.0

I already knew I loved Alexandra Rowland's work (A Conspiracy of Truth is amazing). Rowland knows how to do political intrigue/court (government) politics and upping the stakes. I also love how they do magic systems-very specific (If you've read the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, the touch-taste and truth sayers are written into the book-world a lot like skill and wit are). You can tell that these characters are so cared for, that's especially clear with Tadek.

He could have been so easily pushed to the side and been made a plot device to get in the way of Evemer and Kadou's love story, and he's not a flat character at all.

The chemistry between Kadou and Evemer is palpable and built up well while not getting into the way of the overarching plot (and vice-versa). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Medical content, Violence, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Blood

Minor: Suicidal thoughts