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briely's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Blood, and Death of parent
lazylys'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
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, and Slavery
lanid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
hopejune123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Misogyny
missgarceau'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? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
rebeccasg's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny and Slavery
smokingchagga's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Note: sexual violence is a major thing in this particular series. The threat of it is quite heavy and it can absolutely be a deal breaker for someone who is sensitive to it. There were also a few instances where an assault or the direct aftermath of one was explicitly shown.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
atalea'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
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
i_aletheia's review against another edition
Graphic: Misogyny
moth_mcgangis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Ship of Magic is a sadistic sad-fest of a novel, and as much as I adored Hobb's prose, character development, and vivid descriptions, I don't feel like I can justify rating this book any higher because of that. The author starts by showing you an array of likable characters, then spends the rest of the book putting them through hell again and again and again and again and again.
No good deed goes unpunished in this novel. The likeable characters are beaten and forced to submit while the worst, most hateable characters always get their way. After the first quarter of the book, this pattern is frustrating. Halfway through it is tiresome. And three-quarters of the way I was starved for any sense of justice for the characters I had grown to care for so much, but I never really got it in a justifiably satisfying way. 800 pages is a long time to go without seeing anything good happen to the characters you love, and I just came out of it feeling depressed.
But as much psychological distress as this book caused me... goddammit, I can't possibly rate it lower because all of the characters are so compelling and my desire to see things work out for them (or for some, to see them held responsible for their actions) is overwhelming. Not to mention it is the first book I've read in recent memory to make me cry (poor Paragon...) I will definitely be reading the other two at some point, but not for a while.
In summary, if you are up for a sad novel with infuriating antagonists and very little hope, you will probably love this book. But if you are expecting something cozy and fun like I was, look elsewhere, or you will get strung along on a ride of beautifully written, but seemingly endless misery.
EDIT:
I HAVE DISCOVERD THAT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO READ THIS BEFORE READING THE FARSEER TRILOGY. DON'T DO WHAT I DID! READ FARSEER FIRST!
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, and Slavery