Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

37 reviews

uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Grief

Minor: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

kupids's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence and Slavery

Minor: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Classism

kenzibir's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Really enjoying the series and this author 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

cicizzy's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I really liked the worldbuilding and the characters. I need to read less romantasy this was really refreshing to read.

But the writing style bothered me. I can’t even say what it was, maybe I was just too tired to but I felt like I had to focus a lot more than usual while reading. Maybe it’s just that it felt like there are no “unnecessary” sentences. If you miss a sentence you can actually miss important information. There were no drawn out descriptions of places or longer conversations. Everything was short and to the point. I think when it comes to that so would have liked to see a bit more of the worlds and Londons. The lack of description could make it feel a bit “flat” at times and I think it was a bit of a wasted potential. But it is also just the first volume and I hope that the worlds will be explored a bit more in the future volumes. 
It also didn’t exactly feel like the early 19th century for me but Gray  London also didn’t play a big role. 
I‘m looking forward to the rest of the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Physical abuse, Trafficking, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

nice_frogboy's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

2.5

this book blends involuntary compulsion and sex in a way that was not disclosed, and which i personally do not care for. in the first half of the book, we have:

attempted rape on a protagonist, whippings of magically compelled S&M slaves, someone discloses being compelled to offer sexual favors in the course of an ordinary business transaction, involuntary boob grabs, one protagonist straps the other to a bed and summons a nude clone of them for implied sexual gratification, magical torture, magical chains, the other protagonist is in the bed again...

and so on. there are readers who will enjoy this, but me, i think i really need to know up front if the author intends to go all Anne Rice and such.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, and Blood

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

yruss972's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.5

The book is full of characters consciously being compelled by magic to betray themselves, their families, friends and  countries against their will. Sometimes the magic is worked via non-concentual kissing. Very disturbing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture

mobymaize's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.5

A lovely romp through multiple Londons, similar to, but not the same as, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Super exciting and felt like a very well done HBO mini series in the best way possible :)
Planning on reading the sequels at some point!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Main character uses magic by through self harm. Just a heads up.

laurenbaggy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Minor: Addiction, Confinement, Gore, and Slavery

septemberrain's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

agenericmirkwoodelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Absolutely in love with the characters, magic system, setting and atmosphere! 
Some of the payoffs- especially within the climax- fell a little flat, but I still plan on continuing this series when time allows. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Incest and Fire/Fire injury