Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

Fitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family. Renewing their vicious attacks on the coast, the Red-Ship Raiders leave burned-out villages and demented victims in their wake. The kingdom is also under assault from within, as treachery threatens the throne of the ailing king. In this time of great danger, the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz’s hands—and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Sexism
  • Classism
  • Elder abuse
  • Child abuse recounted
  • Infidelity mentioned
  • Forced political marriage
  • Depressive episode recounted
  • Suicidal ideation mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Drug use
  • Pregnancy & miscarriage discussed
  • Graphic injuries & illness
  • Blood & gore depiction including dead bodies
  • Emesis
  • Seizures
  • Chronic illness
  • Death of a father from medical complications due to chronic alcoholism recounted
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Infanticide
  • Poisoning
  • Physical assault
  • Knife, arrow and axe violence
  • Imprisonment
  • Loss of autonomy (mind control & invasion)
  • War themes & battle scenes
  • Naval warfare
  • Regicide
  • Animal abuse (wolf)
  • Animal death mentioned, including the death of a pet dog.

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected. When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother’s identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Body dysmorphia
  • Rape
  • Graphic self-harm including burning and cutting
  • Dismemberment of hands and fingers, eye trauma, and mutilation like cutting out tongues
  • Murder
  • Torture including whipping, skinning and mentions of foot binding and boiling someone alive
  • Drowning

The Stonekeeper’s Curse by Kazu Kibuishi

Emily and Navin’s mother is still in a coma from the arachnopod’s poison, and there’s only one place to find help: Kanalis, the bustling, beautiful city of waterfalls. But when Em, her brother, and Miskit and the rest of the robotic crew aboard the walking house reach the city, they quickly realize that seeking help is looking for trouble…dangerous trouble.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Blood & physical injury depiction
  • Coma
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a father recounted
  • Attempted murder
  • Explosion
  • Physical assault
  • Fire

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

Camp Alpine Lake is the only place where Goldie Easton feels safe.

She’s always had a special connection to the place, even before she was old enough to attend. The camp is the lifeline of Roxwood, the small town she lives in. Alpine Lake provides jobs, money and prestige to the region. Few Roxwood locals, though, get to reap the rewards of living so close to the glam summer that camp, with its five-figure tuition and rich kids who have been dumped there for eight weeks by their powerful parents. Goldie’s one of them… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Parental divorce
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Physical injuries mentioned
  • Dead body mentioned
  • Murder
  • Physical assault
  • Fire
  • Car accident

Storms of Paine by Opal Reyne

After the storm that separates them, Captains Rosetta Silver and Alister Paine find themselves sailing side by side together once more. Their passion refuses to fizzle out and burns brighter, hotter, and, frighteningly, deeper every time. Rosetta manages to convince the land hating Alister to port. They need supplies and the Laughing Siren still needs repairs. But land may be dangerous for them and not just because of the bounty on his head. Emotions within Rosetta are stirring and she doesn’t have a compass to navigate these unfamiliar waters. Alister’s behaviour… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Domestic violence recounted
  • Miscarriage mentioned
  • Blood, gore & injury depiction

Sea of Roses by Opal Reyne

Captain Alister Paine has always had his good eye set on treasure, murder, and sinking ships. His fame as a ruthless, blood-thirsty pirate has spread across the Seven Seas. The Howling Death, his precious warship, is the deadliest ship on the ocean waters, striking fear into the hearts of all those who see it. So when a deceitful yet sensual woman steals his bloody ship from him, he wants nothing but revenge! His anger holds no bounds. He wants to punish her, but there is something about Rosetta Silver that has Alister drowning beneath the waves of his carnal desires. Despite her… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Sexism
  • Domestic violence recounted
  • Miscarriage recounted
  • Blood, gore and injury depiction

A Soul to Touch by Opal Reyne

All Mayumi ever wanted was to hunt Demons. After being discharged from the Demonslayer guild, Mayumi chose to isolate herself within the forest. The best place to hunt and kill Demons. But, one night, she’s surprised when a different monster is lured by her baits. Just before she unleashes an arrow that’s aimed to kill, Mayumi pauses. She realises she’s seen that skulled, feline face before and that it had once saved her life. All Faunus ever wanted was her. After the Demon King cracked his skull, Faunus returns to watch over the only human he has ever cared for. He knows what his future holds, she would never become his bride… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Pregnancy (epilogue)
  • Blood & injury depiction
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Animal death

A Soul to Revive by Opal Reyne

All Emerie ever wanted was redemption. When a monster comes to Zagros Fortress, Emerie is tasked with capturing him. She never would have gone through with it had she known their treatment of him would be inhumane, nor can she stand by and allow it to continue. Unfortunately, agreeing to help him in his goal may not have been the wisest choice. Along the way, he manages to charm her, and what she once found frightening becomes utterly titillating instead. All Ingram ever wanted was revenge. After a traumatic event, Ingram does something foolish… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Infertility (theme)
  • Attempted suicide
  • Blood, gore & injury depiction
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Torture, off-page

Fire and Ice by Shannon Hale

Strange things are happening at the frozen edge of the world. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan have crisscrossed Erdas in their quest to stop the ruthless Conquerors. Only the four of them, supported by the gifts of their legendary spirit animals, have the power to defeat an evil takeover. While chasing down a lead in the cold north, the heroes arrive at a quiet village where not everything is as it seems. Rooting the truth out of this deceptively beautiful place won’t be easy – and the team is already out of time. The Conquerors are right behind them.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Grandparent with alcoholism mentioned
  • Physical injury & illness including frostbite
  • Death of a father recounted
  • Death from a fall
  • Knife, sword and arrow violence
  • Fire
  • Animal attack
  • Animal death & hunting (seal)

The Other Side of Perfect by Mariko Turk

Alina Keeler was destined to dance, but then a terrifying fall shatters her leg and her dreams of a professional ballet career along with it. After a summer healing (translation: eating vast amounts of Cool Ranch Doritos and bingeing ballet videos on YouTube), she is forced to trade her pre-professional dance classes for normal high school, where she reluctantly joins the school musical. However, rehearsals offer more than she expected — namely Jude, her annoyingly attractive cast-mate she just might be falling for…. Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Parental abandonment discussed
  • Nightmares & sleep difficulty
  • Chronic leg injury (theme)
  • Medical treatment, rehabilitation & surgery for a severely broken leg discussed
  • Bullying