Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

10 reviews

bohemianhermit04's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Blood

Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

reddeddy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Torture, and Pregnancy

wordsareworlds's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

2.5

I saw a quote from Kaner that said that at its core, this book is a quest. Which is exactly the same as its surface and the end of that quest does not exist in this book. 

I was hoping for a book that had a lot more going on with the commentary on the relationships between the characters, and the society as a whole and Kaner's unique approach to gods here. I wanted more on every level, and instead what I got was simplistic characterizations with a ton of repetition and no reflection on how characters get from point to point emotionally on their Epic Quest. 

For all that Godkiller is much more character focused than action action oriented, Kaner fails to give those characters enough layers to hold the weight of page count. Instead we're subjected to the most awkward and author-forced romance between two characters, which I have the sneaking suspicion was only included to satisfy the "but is there spice" question. The overall worldbuilding does not hold up to even a cursory glance, and there was "redemption" moment for Skeddy that only works if you forget the core of his and Inara's relationship

is that their lives are linked so if she dies, he dies. Him saving her life with that in play absolutely does not balance him manipulating her with his powers for years and then literally taking over her body against her will

. The plot itself is by-the-numbers, and the major twist at the end will not be a surprise to anyone who has ever read a fantasy book ever.

On the other hand, there's Kissen. Kissen is the absolute epitome of my own personality and the brand of character I play in ttrpgs. I love her. She's standoffish but desperately wants to have her (found) family close and safe, she throws herself into violence with a wild abandon that is not always backed up by her skill level, but is by her will. The depiction of her disability and physical pain felt incredibly well done. She deserved a better book, but yes I will subject myself to book 2 just to read more about her. 

Read this if you want to read about Kissen and can turn your brain off for pretty much the entire rest of the book. Otherwise just pick up one of the many other, better fantasy books that include characters going on a quest to save themselves but end up finding out they have to save everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Self harm

quitegood's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I did like this book, and I'm curious to see it continue, its just that I had issue with certain bit of the narrative's structure and with how the themes were executed, and to discuss them will require spoiler, so the non-spoiler version is; good but not great, falls short in places, am interested in the sequel. 

So the twist where it turns out Arren is evil does not work because Arren has showed up once at the book's beginning, so finding out he's actually been corrupted by the god who saved him carries very little weight. We're meant to feel as heartbroken as Elo, to know the man he loved has truly gone, but we can't because we don't know who Arren was. Secondly, I love the theme of overcoming hardship and disability, and living to just live, not because you need purpose. But I wish it hadn't been loaded into the final 20% of the book. I know Kissen and Elo are very private characters, but you could have had small moments peppered through out the journey. These are nitpicks, I'm aware, but in that spirit, why'd they have to fuck? I get it, I'm ace, but bloody hell you normies think with your genitals too much!

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and War

kirjakimalainen's review

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

Great disablility representation and people just casually being gay without it making a fuss. Loved the story too and was invested in the characters and their goals.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Animal death and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse and Trafficking

ssjd411's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

hardbackhoarder's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and War

ailurus's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

miraclesnow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Wow wow wow wow. 

This was a surprising book. I wasn’t sure how much I would connect to the characters, which was obviously the only draw as most of this book is just getting to know them and understanding their place in this world. Each character is very flawed, and this first book was obviously them getting over their growing pains being around other people. Each one has been alone in their own way. It wasn’t too slow as they always were actively chasing their goals and doing something, but you have to be ok with the journey and not the destination. 

And boy was the destination something. Backstabs, betrayals, another b word I can’t mention because that would be a spoiler!

I think with what we’ve been given so far, and with some more pages (Cmon Hannah, the next book is gonna have to be chonkier) I think we’re seeing the start of a very interesting new fantasy series. 
I hope with all my heart it grows to be bigger and more powerful than Skedi is. This review will be my offering for that wish to come to fruition.

And I gotta love me a badass

para-abled

bi queen. 

(I put in child abuse & emotional abuse as a catch all for

manipulation of a minor via magic

. It was deeply disturbing to me and the only moment I feel that was truly deserving of the adult categorization.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and War

luckylulureads's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and War

Minor: Infertility, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail