Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'
Elias & Laia - Eine Fackel im Dunkel der Nacht by Sabaa Tahir
12 reviews
lada_bu_joreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Yes, Elias whines, but he also puts his money where his mouth is and gets to work. While Helene especially can't figure out if she wants to be a leader or a scared little daddy's girl. Even after multiple times by different people, even those she hate telling her to get her act together. Laia just floored me by laying up Keenan after the death of her so-called friend and Elias taking off without her. And no questions as to why or how Keenan knows what he knows or does what he does. My guy was given me creeps from t he jump and when he switched so quickly from despising her to "loving her," It's like hold up. Sus activity. And yes, stress can cause a lot of misjudging, etc. and I am glad it was mentioned that she is a horrible decision maker and leader. Because it's true. She could decide or figure herself out of a cave. The o ly thing that saved this whole book with me was Elias and Nightbringer. Their character developments saved the story, in my opinion. Even the Commandants character was true to the end.
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
otterforce's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Still a bit more dark than my usual reads, but it never went overly far while still keeping the stakes high and tension in place.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and War
tabea1409's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
alexasolis98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
risten's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Excrement, and Vomit
allyareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Do I recommend reading a book with genocide and ethnic cleansing in it right now?
100% I do not.
I cried so hard I gave myself a headache
It was still as amazing as I remember but I need to go stare at a wall in a dark room for an indeterminable amount of time.
*sob*
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity and Rape
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
katsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Failure doesn't define you. It's what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.”
“Don't look so worried. Most successful missions are just a series of barely averted disasters.”
“You are a torch against the night - if you dare to let yourself burn.”
Whoa. This novel was a wild ride, much like it's predecessor which I also enjoyed a lot. The adventure and intrigue were a ton of fun and kept me turning pages, especially during the last half. The plot twists were on point and they just kept on coming. Between presumed deaths, actual deaths, a love triangle and a massive betrayal, the drama almost gave me whiplash, but in the best possible way. Elias is the sweetest while also being a total badass. I love how much Laia's character has grown. And while I started off not really liking Helene's POV, I really appreciated her by the end of the book. I also ended up liking Harper much more than I thought I would. I really liked the more overtly fantastical elements incorporated into this novel (as opposed to the first novel, An Ember in the Ashes) and I'm really excited to see how those elements get fleshed out in the last two novels. There are some significant trigger warnings for graphic violence, torture, child abuse and genocide so please be aware.
REREAD:
This was just as fantastic the second time around. The twists and turns were just as good. I was a little frustrated that I forgot so much about the plot over the last year but that just meant I really got to relive it. And honestly I have so many questions for book 3. The character's are so well written and I'm convinced Tahir is going to rip my heart out in the last two books. So here goes nothing.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual content
destdest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I never would’ve dreamt of it, but I find Helene the most interesting. She cannot kill Elias and yet she must; the Commandant is playing chess with her, her soldiers don’t respect her, and her family has sworn allegiance to Marcus, a certified butthole, fighting his own demons. I don’t dislike Laia, but I feel like I’m just being told she’s brave/different now. But I’m not really seeing it.
I also loved that Elias got to see his family again.
There are some parts I enjoy and others I don’t like. As far as interest, it’s like 4 – 5 stars, but I don’t know if I like how some of the heavier elements are handled. But I can’t put this series down either, so onto book 3 I go.
TW: genocide, enslavement, prison torture, seizures, death, child abuse
Ending thoughts (major spoilers):
I was surprised when Laia slept with Keenan because most books have the female lead “untouched” by no one other than the LI, even during a love triangle.
I liked that the Scholar people played a huge role in their own escape. It wasn’t like Elias was the chosen “savior” or something. Maybe he brought morale up, but they also helped themselves. It’s always iffy when the savior of a people is an outsider, but I think the story avoided that.
Also, loved that he died. You don’t expect the hero to die in these stories, even if he does cheat death for a few pages more.
The whole Keenan-Jinn felt majorly cheesy. I thought he was just helping the warden because they had information on a family member of his who wasn't killed.
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Torture, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Grief