Reviews with content warning for Violence - House of Sky and Breath

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

261 reviews

chloebear21's review against another edition

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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? No

4.0

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elffrommars's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I feel that this book could have been about 500 pages, as most of it is slice of life and pals palling around, with only thin threads of a deeper plot to keep the reader interested.

Unfortunately, the first books plot was so epic that there isn't much to follow up on. I see this happen time and time again: the first book/movie/season is so epic that there isn't a way to one up. The plot becomes a tried and true but basic trope of overpowering the government.

There are the usual faves of J. Maas:
- uncontrollable and mysterious magic powers
- enemies and to friends and lovers
- secretly a good guy!
- secretly a bad guy!
- love that is so important that it's actually pre-destined (seriously, I could do without the mate crap)

There were a couple of minor twists that got me, and the ending that mixes CC with ACOTAR is interesting but also kind of messy and seriously encroaching on MCU territory. The biggest 'twist' I saw coming from a mile away because she never changed anything up and it's broadcast from the beginning LOL.

That being said, the characterisation is a smidge better, and I do think there is some great world building at work here. I can tell J. Maas really wants to be the next Cassie Clare, with worlds and characters that spand centuries and interconnect with each other. I get it, and I think she could do it, if she'd learn how to stretch a plot over more than one book and a romance, too. She has a tendency to rush everything, creating a dull narrative with little promise for reward. Seriously I was bored until about page 500!

Maybe the next one will be better :)

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avialaeleigh's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

5.0

Okay what the fuck was that? That was a whirlwind of fuckery. I'm gonna try and keep this as in order as I can but I know it's gonna be all over the place.

1st why can't Bryce and Hunt just have a smidgen of happiness without one of them almost dying or being taken as a captive? It feels like everyone and everything is out to tear them apart even though they are mates, which I love for then but it was so obvious that that was going to be a thing.

Also I love the different side of Ruhn we get to see when he's in his mind realm with agent daybreak and wasn't that an interesting thing to come about. Her being the Hind and witch Queen Hypraxia's sister, older sister at that so she could be queen. And was it just me or are Ruhn and Lidia mates as well I feel like when Ruhn is talking about their scents that that's what is trying to be conveyed but I am not 100% sure just because we've had so little interaction with them face-to-face yet.

Also what is with it and all the scary people ending up being rebels. First Baxian aka the Helhound then Lidia aka the Hind. Both of them people that have done atrocious things for the Asteri, who ate apparently aliens that eat their firstlight and keep them all in the dark and make is seem like they are "from the stars" when the aren't they are just lying planet stealing no do "bloodsuckers" for lack of a better term.

And why do we learn that Dankia was once again keeping more shit from Bryce. First all the shit in the first book but then everything in this one. She was looking into everyones histories and family lines to figure something out. But was it just to figure out a different ruler for the wolves or was it to figure out the Asteri? Was it both? None of it, are their more prices that we are missing about her? Why did she keep all of this from Bryce, why didn't she trust her with all of this. Why did she hide that she and Braxian were mates? Did she not trust Bryce to be able to keep it a secret for his safety?

Also whose side is Celestina on? She seems like she is on their side sometimes especially with her and Hypaxia being a thing in secret. But then she seems to have sold them all out to the Asteri. Why? To what end? She doesn't seem to like them anymore than the others do but then she also sells them out. What the fuck?

I hope Bryce is able to get back to Midgard and resue them all because I can't take Hunt being a slave again. What he might be forced to do with that halo on him. And also why to Rhysand? Is that the land that the Fae originally came from? And if so why in ACOTAR did we never hear any stories of fae going to another world, or did they and I just missed it. Does that mean that there two series now interlock? Will there be books that interconnect the two or will it just be these books?

Trust SJM to make me question everything that I have read in her books at the end of one book. I'm sure I will have many more at the end of the next one.

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jevette15's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

3.25

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stephaniemcuervo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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singingshooter's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

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correnreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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shyarie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny 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? N/A

4.5

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lizgom's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Is it possible to love 30% of a book so much it’s a 4 star even though I skimmed the other 70%?
I got Holmes vibes from Bryce always playing detective, not sure if I love it or hate it.

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kaylacampion's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Absolutely nothing happens in this book that requires 800+ pages to tell about

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