Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

11 reviews

thejadylady's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-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

4.0

I usually read books in the first person in this one is third person omniscient, so that was a little challenging for me 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death and Body horror

Minor: Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

the animal deaths bothered me but they were shortly mentioned

zaesbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

What a book! A spoiler-free review to help you decide if you want to read: 

If you are a lover of fantasy novels that have a unique concept, world-building, beautiful writing, political intrigue, and explore all the ins and outs of different kinds of relationships - this series is for you!

So here’s what you can expect: a very interesting, dark concept for a story (three triplets who are raised separately on an island filled with magic, knowing they will either die or kill their sisters to become queen at the mere age of 16), good world-building, examples of a multitude of relationships (including romantic subplots), magic, political power dynamics, surprises, and a plot-twist or two. 

Heads up- there are four novels and two novellas (both novellas together in one book: Queens of Fennbirn). Do not read the novellas before reading Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne. It contains spoilers for the first two books of the series. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

fiercereadsfiction's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

Moderate: Violence and Blood

Minor: Animal death

pagesbycaroline's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

Second read of this book. It's been long enough since I read it the first time that most everything was a surprise, which was delightful. There are many twists that I did not remember, so it was almost like reading it for the first time. I very much enjoy the dark nature of this story and cannot wait to continue reading the series. I remember in the beginning, Katharine was my favorite, but now I am leaning more towards Arsinoe.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood

cc0906's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

thaliareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I had a bit of trouble with this book, and I think I might have had trouble finishing it if I hadn't been listening to it. I like the concept, but had some trouble with the pacing and inconsistent order and switching of POVs. I don't think it necesarily detracted from the book on its own, but I think that personally it led to some difficulties. 

I liked the concept and the characters. The plot progression was good, if a bit slow at times, but I kept loosing track of how close or far they were from different milestones they'd need to reach. 

However, I think the last handful of chapters really brought this up a notch for me. I was sincerely excited to read the next book to see what happens, despite not really enjoying this book as much as some of my recent reads. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

This book doesn't spare any details. This won't be for you if you don't like wounds to be graphically described. Additionally, the self harm/torture and physical abuse all relates to the intentional and repeat poisoning of one character to develop their resistance. This is however out of a desire to live, not a desire to die.

anastasiamakes's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

I was expecting this book to be very Hunger Games / Battle Royale-y but it actually focused a lot more on the characters, their relationships, and the politics of their world. A dark romp with strong female characters throughout and some good twists. Enjoyed it more than I expected! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Torture, and Violence

hannahwhiteyy's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This was a good first book to the series, but didn’t stand well on its own. The pacing and flow was spotty at times, yet faster in others. Yet overall, the plot was intriguing and I empathised with a lot of the characters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, and Suicide attempt

bookishgoob's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

this book was a beautiful fantasy that wasn’t incredibly confusing in the world building. the perspectives of each place and how they train up their queens was so interesting to see. i’m so glad i started this series

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail

barry_benson's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit