Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

6 reviews

culpeppper's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I'm disgusted and intrigued. I do so deeply wish I weren't able to relate to the main character. She's clearly a brilliant mind that is stifled by the constraints of her time and culture, so some of my favorite moments were when she was able to be brilliant on her own, flexing her brain and agency even as she is forced to bend to the will of men around her. 

It's a line that I think a lot of historical stories teeter unsuccessfully, a brilliant female protagonist with attributes that render her powerless in one way or another in general society,  but I think was done well here. Historical relevance in this was rarely disregarded in settings, characters, and actions, but at the same time the author has given Adelia a mind sharp enough to offer credibility to our suspension of disbelief. This feels like a cohesive world, so while Adelia is largely disadvantaged in many ways it's believeable to a non-historian that a woman in this time like her could exist. 

I hate the relationship between her and the tax collector (I have no idea how to spell his name, or any names for that matter) the more it develops. I really feel 0 chemistry bewteen them, and unless this is set up for something bigger down the line I don't get it. He is so irritating even when he is supposed to be charming. 
I guess if I were a young woman in the 12th century and I was facing massive life changes, multiple traumatic events, misogyny + antisemitism + xenophobia from literally everyone, and social isolation, I KNOW I'd fall for the first asshole that respected my personage 25% of the time. 
Out of all the characters in the book, there are only four (4!) male characters I don't wish venereal diseases on in this story. And one of them is dead by the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Genocide, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Excrement, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

A lot of implied and referenced sexual violence, with some on page, towards children, women, and animals.

Though certain acts rape, genital mutilation, and stabbing into pelvic orifices happen to children and animals multiple times throughout the book. Though none are shown on page in a visual of the act happening, what happens after is described in a variety of ways.)

idun_aurora's review

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

An enjoyable medieval whodunnit, despite the gruesome and heavy topics. The scenery was painted so well it felt like I was there, which is always a plus for me.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

There are a lot of triggers in this one!

Also contains mutilation and entombement

mothmania's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

folst015's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Blood

r3ader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Vomit, Religious bigotry, and Classism

dutchessofbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

Very good, but please heed the content warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pedophilia