Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

19 reviews

ryleelizabeth's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

2.25

A book full of s*x in different locations and insufferable characters that make me want to bang my head against a wall. But at least the ending was interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

amy_in_the_city's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

3.5

 This book felt unfocused, constantly switching between too many plot threads and POVs. I feel like we could have done without a couple of the POVs, like Tharion's. He was just strange and kind of unlikeable (with the condescending nickname for Bryce and the creepy obsession with her underwear; wtf was that?), and I just didn't care about him. 

As a result of trying to cram in the various plotlines and other character POVs, I feel like Bryce and Hunt got lost in the shuffle. I was hoping to learn more about the main couple and see more of their relationship, but they were mostly in the story to serve the plot instead of the plot serving them. I missed seeing cute relationship moments like we had in the first book, and I don't feel like we really learned any more about Bryce and Hunt's pasts or struggles. I was hoping to see Hunt working through his emotions about the awful things he's done as the Umbra Mortis, his trauma from being enslaved, etc. but it seemed like all of that mostly went away or got brushed aside.

I loved seeing more of Ruhn and enjoyed his storyline of

falling in love with a spy sight-unseen

. I'm still not sure how I feel about who his lover ended up being and think he deserved better. Maybe I'll learn more about the love interest in the third book that will make me like her more.

Ithan seemed like an OK character, but I'm just tired of every guy in this book being in love with Bryce for some reason, and I wish that wasn't part of Ithan's character. I have hopes he'll be better in the next book as they seemed to be setting up some interesting storylines for him.

Everyone seemed to be making stupid decisions in this book. They're

constantly talking about their rebellion plans while walking down the street and while in public bars and cafes. They all know they live in a surveillance state, so why are they risking talking so openly in public places?

They also

send the kid everyone is looking for to go live with the main character's parents. Nobody thinks it will look suspicious that these people suddenly adopted an older kid who fits the description of the kid everyone is looking for?

Tharion decides to

break up with the River Princess without having a plan in place for escaping from the angry River Queen.

This guy is supposed to be the Head of Intelligence?

I really didn't like that the book ended on such a cliffhanger. I get that it's a series, but when I finish reading a romance book, I don't want to be left feeling worried for characters who <spoiler are in mortal peril and are going to be tortured for who knows how long. If I wanted that, I'd go read a normal fantasy series, not a romance fantasy. The only solution I can think of for how to avoid having such a stressful ending for the readers while still having plenty of stakes for Bryce in the next book is if

after Bryce disappears through the gate, somehow Ruhn and Hunt escaped or were rescued and went into hiding. Then Bryce could still be out of her mind with worry for what her brother and mate are going through, but the reader would know they're fine for now.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

This was SO good. I really enjoyed it and I was STRESSED for a good portion of the read. Many of the plot twists and reveals were shocking/surprising. I found myself constantly torn on who was a rebel and who was not. I did feel like the characters were making reckless decisions but also that’s their personalities. The ending was CRAZY. I was so surprised to see that and I’m curious how it will play out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Infidelity, Torture, and War

_alyssar_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Medical content, Alcohol, and Colonisation

cdoubet's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

readwithde's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? No

5.0

This was everything a sequel should be, imo. All the chaos from the first book needed to be processed while power players moved and planned.

This was a perfect villain story for the Asteri akin to Empire Strikes Back. It was set up and played beautifully, and honestly saved this book from being simply another grand romantasy.

The pacing for the twists and truth behind actions was perfect; though the rebel movement storyline did not make much sense to me, it set up the broader world and bigger threats very well.

Bryce was a bit annoying, and Hunt was a bit underwhelming, but the supporting cast was absolutely incredible. Team Ruhn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

britwalsh16's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? No

5.0

Holy shit!! The last 50 pages man.. HOLY SHIT!!! 🤯 I have no words. I’m just in awestruck at everything that was revealed! And that ending!!! I cannot wait to start on book 3!!! Sarah J Maas has done it again. I love her books so much!!! I’m in awe!!! 🖤
I honestly don’t know what else to say without spoilers!! Just read it!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Rape, Torture, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Genocide, Vomit, and Alcohol

deshanejt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide, Torture, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, and Infidelity

sierrabowers's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

This book was even better than House of Earth and Blood! Definitely had to push through to get to the good parts but like any SJM book, the last 100 pages HAD ME HOOKED and made the entire plot building up to it WORTH EVERY PAGE. I CANNOT WAIT to read CC3 in January!!!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

starredbyalice's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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

how am i not supposed to only reread sjm's books after this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infertility and Infidelity