Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

6 reviews

h_scharff's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

sparksofkell's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Trafficking, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pedophilia, Trafficking, Abortion, and Pregnancy

mazomazli's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

2.5

I’m really not sure how I made it to the end and still want to read the next book. I found a lot of the worldbuilding to be the main reason I kept going because I want to know how things came to be. However this book is very much packed full with triggering content, often done carelessly and thrown in for what feels like shock factor. The main character is not likable at all, though I’ve never liked her to begin with. Here are the following that the author did that doesn’t sit right with me: 
- constant obsession with beauty equaling goodness and fat phobia (only when the main character loses weight and magically takes on someone else’s appearance is she pretty) and the other evil queen would never be beautiful. How tragic to be ugly I suppose. 
- one of the most graphic homophobia scenes I’ve ever read. A gay church member is castrated and his wound is left to get infected. There was no reason to put this in. There’s no commentary it’s just to show how evil the new church leader is
- graphic rape and constant sexual assault. Graphic domestic violence in full detail. Repeatedly. 
- graphic self harm that is also deeply concerning because it seems the main character is always reopening her wounds by the slightest movements. There was no need to describe her start into it. 
- bizarre portrayal of a woman with albinism being magical and wicked and very sexual…?! That was deeply uncomfortable and I think ableist
- stereotypical orientalism with describing a neighboring king of having a harem with 20+ wives and how the main character was offered to be the highest rank
- improper “seizure” care where they held down the MC and put things in her mouth - huge no’s 
- slavery is used as a casual tool 
And so much more. 

Jonathan deserved better than to meet an end of self sacrifice. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Racism, Slavery, Vomit, Abortion, Dysphoria, and War

kalmia31's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Slavery, Kidnapping, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

shinypurplepants's review against another edition

adventurous sad tense

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

3.75

The second entry into the Tearling series didn't hold me in the same way of the first. The realities of war made this one feel heavier and

the changes it brought to our Queen of the Tearling made it difficult for me to continue rooting for her. <\spoiler>

In addition, the dual narrative starring Lily, while a relevant glimpse into the Old World, felt like it slowed the pace of the book dramatically.

Overall, I would still recommend those that enjoyed the first book give this one a try with the caveat that it is quite different from the first entry in the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Classism

aklovekorn's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail