Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Burned: A Daughters of Salem Novel by Kellie O'Neill

3 reviews

shae_purcell's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

I admittedly struggled a lot with this book in the beginning. The story moved very slowly and I was having a hard time connecting with the main character. Some of the writing felt dated and my copy had a lot of typos. It could have used more editing.

All that said, I became much more invested in the story

once Eleanor began her magic training.

I enjoyed the magic system, the different branches of magic, the use of the familiars. I became attached to some of the characters, and even Eleanor grew on me as she became more confident in her magical abilities.

The next book is due out Fall 2024, I believe. I was very tempted to DNF this one toward the beginning, but I ended up enjoying it in the end. I’ll probably pick up the next book in the series once it’s out to see where the story goes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Drug use, Gun violence, Self harm, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Cursing, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Graphic: dead body

(or the appearance of one)

Moderate: burglary/theft,

appearance of self harm, not actually self-inflicted

evueimeimei's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Torture, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

tiffanne11's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book starts out like many YA books. After tragedy, a young girl and her family relocate and she discovers her magical heritage. But what starts as a cute witchy story quickly turns. 
Someone is kidnapping and murdering witches, and no one is connecting it. But Eleanor finds herself in the middle of the plot. 
This book has so many twists and turns, some which I guessed and some that had me shocked. But it's done really well in that you are trying to pick up the pieces and solve it alongside Eleanor. 
The author does have some suspenseful flair and loves to end a chapter on a cliff hanger, but because it is literally life and death, it works. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Alcohol