Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab

43 reviews

shmabbyabby's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault and Fire/Fire injury

cozy_tea_reader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Rape, Self harm, Torture, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

robin_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? No

5.0

Nothing I thought would happened, did happen. This was amazing, dark and twisted and intense. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

art_books_chemistry's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.75

I am totally intrigued by this twist on the multiverse that Schwab has put together in Darker Shade of Magic. She doesn't necessarily have any particularly unique themes, but maybe it is more so that she has put them together in a unique way. I picked up some Narnia vibes (Magician's Nephew not The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) and although it has been many years since I've read it, it reminded me of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials as well. Regardless, I am absolutely wrapped up in the main characters' lives, rooting for them and dying to find out where they go from here. 

I guessed early on that there might be something extra special about Lila. I was a little disappointed to not get an answer in this first book, especially when I thought it was quite obvious and wasn't being very well hidden. But I'm invested in her story and love how eccentric she is. As much as Kell has a bit of moral greyness about him from being a smuggler, he's quite straight-laced overall and Lila is definitely his personality foil which makes the book more fun. 

I also seem to be on a kick lately with my fantasy books where they all have cliffhanger endings on the first book of a series. I kind of miss books that finish their major plot line for the book and just continue an overarching theme from then onward. Not to say that I disliked the ending, it was certainly a logical stopping point but it definitely didn't feel "finished". 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

mobymaize's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

A lovely romp through multiple Londons, similar to, but not the same as, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Super exciting and felt like a very well done HBO mini series in the best way possible :)
Planning on reading the sequels at some point!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Main character uses magic by through self harm. Just a heads up.

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Genocide, Sexual content, Excrement, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Alcohol

pikkumarja's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Hehkutetun fantasiakirjailijan se teos, joka oli helposti saatavilla suomeksi. Ihan hyvä ja ymmärrän, mistä hehkutus johtuu. Tarina kulki sujuvasti ja viihdyin kyllä kirjan parissa.

Samalla jotain jäi puuttumaan ja välillä huomasin vilkuilevani jatkuvasti sivunumeroita ja huomasin tylsistyväni. En ole varma, haluanko jatkaa trilogian loppuun.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

agenericmirkwoodelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Absolutely in love with the characters, magic system, setting and atmosphere! 
Some of the payoffs- especially within the climax- fell a little flat, but I still plan on continuing this series when time allows. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Incest and Fire/Fire injury

kwichris's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.75

I've not read the first book from an author in a while that immediately had me hungry for more in some time. Schwab created a very interesting magic system that unfurls more as you and one of the characters (Lila) continue to explore the worlds with Kell. The way in which multiple realities (or worlds as they're referred to here) is tackled is quite unique in that there's a set limit but infinite possibilities in each depending on each world's relationship with magic. Schwab provides plenty of colorful imagery for the reader with plenty of room for imagining your own view of the world's she created. Seeing the worlds from multiple perspectives without feeling forced, helps the reader relate to our main characters and better understand their motivations and growth. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an unique take on magic as a concept and how different people use (or abuse) it, or how it may use them instead. Plus there's some interesting shenanigans with thievery, realm traveling, and tense fight scenes, so what's not to love?

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, and Torture

Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

_marycappiello3's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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

5.0

I love Delilah bard 🖤

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Grief and Fire/Fire injury