Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Bound & Tide by A.K. Caggiano

5 reviews

glynn_nr's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

4.75

I really enjoyed this book. I was glad to find that reading it as a physical copy was just as enjoyable as listening to the others as audiobooks. I had been worried because the audiobooks were so fun to listen to, and I thought the dynamic might be different reading it written. 

I think I wanted a little something different from Xander, maybe more gumption (can't quite put my finger on it), but I was overall quite happy with this side quest addition to the main storyline. I felt like some things related to the FMC were left a bit unexplored, but it was a pretty short book, so that's probably why. 
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sirpandacat's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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jessversteeg's review

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dark hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Xander turns into a softie in this one and it’s so wonderful to see his sad, abused heart be loved. 
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ceruleanshelves's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

“All of you keep your mouths shut or, so help me dark gods, I will turn this griffin around, and nobody will be raining terror or destruction down on anything!”

if you haven't read the villains & virtues series yet, what are you even doing!?!?!?

it is so bittersweet to have the villains & virtues universe come to an end! and with such a fitting book, following the deliciously diabolical xander.

the way this managed to be the most emotional yet also spiciest book of the series???? ok!

“How in the realm do I find you so beguiling?”
“Because for all the torture I put you through, I’ll take you somewhere you’ll enjoy, in the end.”
Dark gods, that was the crux of it, wasn’t it?

while this still had caggiano's trademark silly terry pratcher-esque humor throughout the story, i felt like this was the most down-to-earth and heaviest of the series. it's not super heavy, but there's definitely more of a sensitivity dealing with xander's childhood abuse and toxic relationship with his mother, resulting in insecurity, self-deprecation, and self-loathing.

She would have slapped him if she didn’t have an inkling they’d both enjoy it.

“You fucking bastard!”
“I did not do this,” Xander protested.
“Oh, not you."

It was unfortunate for Evangeline that she found men to be both endlessly annoying yet achingly desirable.

it was fun to see him meet evangeline and a few other characters who warmed up his jaded little heart and gave him the love and family he deserves 🥲

final line:
Love made one wild and free but safe and sincere too, and it overcame birth and duty and even hopelessness because, in the end, it was the most transcendent of virtues, and even a villain understood that.
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krisalexcole's review

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adventurous emotional funny medium-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

4.75

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