Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia

7 reviews

adanisan's review against another edition

adventurous

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace for a dystopian fantasy or I just had high expectations going in, but it felt like too much story was being packed into this one novel at the cost of developing characters or any of the story lines. Several elements intrigued me, but at many climactic points I was left surprised by how we got there and then quickly left. I might try this again later, but I definitely want to read more by this author!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, and Drug use

cavtasticreader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This a a fantastic epic fantasy!! I was hooked from the first page. The character arc of Lucha is top notch. It reminds me of This Poison Heart in all the best ways. The action based plot kept me on the edge of my seat wanting Lucha to make the right choices. 

In a world ruled by corruption, greed, and drugs that let people forget anything that is causing them grief. Lucha just wants to save her sister no matter what it takes even if that means making a deal with El Sediento the master of death who’s suppose to be just legend. This journey through that defines that destiny is just the culmination of the choices a person they make.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Addiction, and Drug abuse

Minor: Rape

zohannah's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Trafficking, and Drug use

Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

libraryraven's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Trafficking

Minor: Animal death

rebyreadsandwrites's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, and Murder

Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment

ezwolf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.0

Lucha of the Night Forest caught my attention as a "fantasy about a girl who will do anything to protect her sister". I love stories about siblings going to great lengths to protect each other and the book does deliver on that. 

I've spent a few days trying to find the right word to describe how this book felt to me and I have settled on that it's just kind of surface level in terms of world building and character development. At the start of the book I was very invested, but as I kept reading my interest lessened. 

But this book is fast paced and a bit dark with a sapphic romance and I think a lot of other people will like this book more than I did. 

Thank you to NetGalley for making this book available in exchange for an honest review!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Confinement

Moderate: Grief, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Addiction

Minor: Trafficking, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Classism

caseythereader's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Thanks to Random House for the free advance copy of this book.

 - LUCHA OF THE NIGHT FOREST is a dark YA fantasy that I couldn't put down. I read the whole thing in one day because I had to know what was going to happen to Lucha.
- The world invented in this book isn't super detailed, but enough to get you invested and rooting for everyone. Even when characters' motives are at odds, you still want all of them to succeed.
- I loved that there was sapphic attraction between Lucha and Luz, but that it wasn't the driving force of the story, simply one element of it.
- This book doesn't shy away from the idea that systems are built to keep whole classes of people down, and also that even if you think you're doing good, you can still be doing harm in ways you haven't considered. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Death, Violence, Blood, and Drug abuse

Minor: Misogyny