Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

105 reviews

thepaperbackqueen's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

4.0

Definitely enjoyed my reading experience with this book and I can't wait to read book 2. 

Alina is the main character of this book and her whole life got turned upside town when she entered the Shadow fold as a mediocre cartographer but left the fold and something she refused to come to terms with. 
She was not part of the Grisha and not just any Grisha but a rare Grisha who potentially has the power to change Ravkha and her kingdom.

Alina had to come to terms with her identity and learned a lot about herself and her power alone the way. She learns to trust and was betrayed, she learns to control her power and it was taken from her and through it all even when hope was lost she continued to persevere. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Minor: Emotional abuse

greylagoon's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

lee_s's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

rainbowspacewitch's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

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

3.75

Really enjoyed this book - it was a very quick read for me as I kept turning page after page. I started and finished the book today. Something in me isn't quite willing to give it 4 stars though. There were some passages in the book that felt quite juvenile in the way that they focused on friendships and looks and going to the big dance. I suppose they are young adult books, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! I guess I was disappointed that even in a fantasy novel the standard teenage tropes make an appearance. Saying that though, I can't wait to read the next one!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death and Emotional abuse

uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

adventurous informative lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

Minor: Body shaming, Blood, and Vomit

bookishdreamer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and War

Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, and Death of parent

orchidlilly's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

Fantasy not-quite-Imperial-Russia with weird magic people is a pretty neat premise. I really appreciate the world building, which feels realistic but not so overtly 'just Russia' that it pulls you out. The magic is fun, even though it isn't very in-depth, and the plot as a whole is very gripping. Mostly, the characters are the biggest issue. Insofar as they don't have much personality. Alina is just a bland YA fmc, the Darkling is just broody hot and evil, Mal is good and also hot, and I can smell the love triangle from a mile away. It's not terrible, though, just very full of the standard YA cliches. I also don't generally love first person, but the writing is good enough that I can overlook it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Slavery

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

vnfhcxksiw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• 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

5.0

The world and magic systems are creative yet also rooted in reality without holes that leave me asking logic questions. I love the complexity of Alina and the surrounding characters who bring the story together. Book 1 is as much about sacrifice and belonging as it is becoming who you are meant to be. Many of the shocking moments felt half expected for me because of my consideration of the characters. One event that should have been predictable took me off guard, having thought I understood the Darkling's motivations and calculations. Ravka is a country I would not want to live in, because it is very dark and deadly. Those qualities are what I love about the book, though, along with the Russian influences of the world. Starting this series took me entirely too long. Most of the book I read in 2 days. I would have liked more flashbacks of Mal early on to bring forth more sympathy about him and Alina's loss of her friend, but their present time together feels reminiscent of the past in a weird way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and War

Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol