Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

5 reviews

itmakessenseincontext's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

3.5

Controversial, but I think this was the best book in the series.

As in the most well written. 

I loved how it was structured, and how JLA explored mental health, trauma, recovery, and worthiness through Casteel, and I felt myself relating to him a lot in this book, and I was in tears a few times because certain passages felt like a callout. In a good way, because it made me think about how I treat myself, and why certain passages were triggering for me.

If you are just here for more or Poppy and Cas and finding out what happens next you won't enjoy it, and I think that's why people dislike it. But if you approach it as a look into Casteel's mind, vulnerability, trauma, and healing its a wonderfully well written book, and an enjoyable read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction

I really want to emphasise the Mental Illness, Self Harm, and Suicide trigger warnings. I dont know if I was just really vulnerable while reading, but these topics hit me very hard, and I'm normally able to deal with them very well. They are addressed with care and sensitivity, but if you have gone through this they will be extremely relatable, at least they were for me

yarisbooksandbevs's review

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective 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

I really enjoyed seeing things from Cas’s perspective. Especially after knowing everything we know. I kind of liked this one better than the first.  It was nice to see what he was going through and a little bit into why he made the decisions he did. The ending really surprised me and I did not see it coming.

I love the bond the three of them have. I wasn’t expecting Cas to shift and I just want to know if she recognized them! I will be heartbroken if she doesn’t

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Cursing, Grief, Torture, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Self harm, Confinement, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Body shaming, Child death, and Stalking

zg0612's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense 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

This book was really good! I loved how we got the story told from Casteel’s pov, so we don’t just hear what he’s told Poppy before, but how he actually feels about all of it. The chapters based in the present throughout were also nice to have.

BUT CASTEEL SHIFTING?!!!!! LOVED THAT!!!!!

Can’t wait for the next book!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Death, Murder, and Mental illness

Moderate: Death of parent and Pregnancy

kaydie96's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

From Blood and Ash is my favourite of this series, so getting to relive it through Hawke’s POV was such a delight! I loved getting to see his take on events and the feelings he had while going through it all. Especially my favourite scenes. Each of those felt like a little treat ❤️

I also appreciate how it was a bit of a breather. There’s so much that happens in this series CONSTANTLY so just getting to experience this walk down memory lane was much needed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Cursing, Torture, Blood, Child death, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, War, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Body shaming, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence

janeywaneyb's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Let's be honest this is just a retelling of From Blood and Ash but in Casteel's voice. Nothing happens, even the normal cliffhanger isn't that great, that you don't already know, I maybe have a little bit more love for Kieran. It was good to revisit the start of their relationship and hear how Cas fell in love with Poppy but reads a little like fan fiction. I'm still not convinced this book was needed. I would have preferred for the story to be moved on and for us to meet the Primals and gods but especially Nyktos, Sera and Kolis. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Death, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Confinement, and Blood