Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

28 reviews

aliceruthless's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

With every reread I find new information. It’s a thick and heavy read but feels relevant for the times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

haroldtheboogie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, War, and Injury/Injury detail

rosieholmes99's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

microbemasher's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

5.0

Reminded me of how I felt about fantasy as a kid. It's everything I want out or a fantasy novel in terms of worldbuilding, multiple POVs, character driven plot.

It both is and isn't a stereotypical epic fantasy. Sanderson sets up classic tropes I love and expect, but then subverts them in shocking and satisfying ways. Every time I think I know what I'm in for, the rug gets pulled out from under me and I'm hooked trying to find out what will come next.

The first two chapters were also AMAZING. I love when books throw you into the world and expect you to start swimming. Sanderson establishes an amazing mystery right off the bat that pays off fantastically in the course of the series. Book by book we revisit the same scene from different characters POV, and each new book reveals something that totally changed how I understood the larger plot.

The worldbuilding and intriguing plot established in this book had me ready for more! I read all 3 of the first books in quick succession, and the plot they delivered lived up to what was established here.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Abandonment, and War

kaylatibbs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Ableism, Child death, Cursing, Hate crime, Suicide, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol

jaedia's review against another edition

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

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Racism

soyabeanos's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense slow-paced

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

4.75

this was my first fantasy series and i absolutely loved it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and War

orvillefartenbacher's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

nojerama's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

Wow. Holy shit. Ok I get what you were all talking about now. 

It started slow, but Sanderson's storytelling was frankly immaculate and he weaved all the threads together with precision and care. Kaladin was a firm favourite from the get go, Shallan is a character archetype I adore (I'm a forever student at heart and so seeing characters in any learning environment is my jam) plus her whole dilemma and how she deals with Jasnah was wonderful to watch grow and blossom. Dalinar was a slow burn but grew on me, his dry wit and blunt nature plus the inherent vulnerability in having a POV character deeply question their sanity meant I couldn't help but love him. Also loved Wit after seeing him

as Hoid in Tress of the Emerald Sea

, he made me snort my tea from laughing. 

The audiobook narrators were phenomenal, genuinely no idea why people were bitching about Kate Reading so much (maybe it's a marmite thing but I adored how she read Shallan). There were like one or two things I thought maybe needed a biiiiit more breathing room (for example I do not for one second believe Jasnah would have forgiven Shallan so quickly at the end there) but also for pacing sake I understand why they went the way they did so I'm not complaining. 

Also sorry I just have to, spoilers below also beware of cursing:

THE PARSHMEN?!? THE PARSHMEN ARE VOIDBRINGERS?!?!?!? When I got to that bit as God is my witness I paused my audiobook and just went what the FUCK

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment

katrinarose's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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

4.0

There’s so much to learn about this world that I feel like this 1000+ page book was just a brief introduction! While it has a slow start, it all felt necessary to build the groundwork for what I have no doubt will be one of the most epic, complex classic fantasy series ever written. Sanderson also doesn’t infodump so you learn about the world and characters a bit at a time and it doesn’t feel overwhelming (although it is often confusing because historical/magical/character context hasn’t yet been explained - but I imagine this makes rereads even better). The characters were all very compelling and the ending was so good! I’m excited to continue on with the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death and Grief

Minor: Alcohol