Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo

6 reviews

ahoyitsjoy's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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

5.0

Another fantastic Singing Hills Cycle book, this time focusing on grief as Chih returns to Singing Hills and finds that an old mentor has passed away. So happy to see Almost Brilliant again! The neixin in general are so interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Grief

Moderate: Alcohol

library_gremlin's review

emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Self harm

ellornaslibrary's review

adventurous emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Grief

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Self harm, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcohol

mnstarr's review against another edition

reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Self harm

maeverose's review against another edition

emotional reflective

3.75

Mainly about dealing with grief, this one is a little different than the other books in the series, as there isn’t much storytelling until the end. But it still has the same feel as the other books. Almost Brilliant is back, as well as several other neixin. We get to see the Singing Hills and learn a little more about it, and meet other clerics. It made me emotional a few times, and overall I thought was very well done.

The only thing that disappointed me a little bit, was that I thought Chih was non binary, but it seems all the clerics use they/them pronouns (as a sort of symbolism of giving up a part of themselves to dedicate their life to being a cleric? Maybe? It’s not explained). I can’t remember if that was explained in the first book. If so, that’s my bad for missing it, if not, I’m a bit disappointed that what I thought was representation I identified with was taken away in this book… (it’s not exactly trans rep if their pronouns have nothing to do with gender) I’ll have to re read the first one and see if it was already explained. Because if it wasn’t, that feels like queerbaiting.. I don’t believe there have been any other characters in the series that were portrayed as non binary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Violence

sarah984's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

This was a beautiful little story about grief, change and growth - coming home to a place and people that have changed, ways to handle grief and what you carry with you. I thought the ending was a little too convenient but overall I loved this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Self harm, Transphobia, Blood, Excrement, Alcohol, and War