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Reviews tagging 'Violence'
Thick as Thieves: A Queen's Thief Novel by Megan Whalen Turner
11 reviews
hellavaral's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Trafficking, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
spinebenderbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
This both gives us a look at Kamet's POV, previously a minor character featured in the second book. This book deals heavily with Kamet's position and identity as a slave and unravels what that means to and for him over the course of the story.
In Kamet, the book presents a complicated portrayal of slavery from a slave's point of view. At the beginning of the book, his mindset is like that of a person in an abusive relationship - he explains away the abuse he faces from his master and views his position as a slave as a form of security for him in terms of power, wealth, and knowing what is expected of him. He leaves behind his life as a slave not due to breaking away from this way of thinking, but due to his belief that doing so is the only way he can secure the life - or at least the easy death - of his close friend and avoid his own death.
Over the course of the story, his ideas are challenged. Even still, he retains many of the beliefs that he was taught by the colonialist culture he lived under. He views other countries and their citizens as inferior to the power and intellect of the Mede Empire because he was brought up in that belief and has seen it enacted upon himself. He assumes that all countries the Medes seek to conquer will fall to them eventually because his own experience has taught him that that is the outcome. He sees resistance to this as pointless and does not understand what it is to choose freely and to fight to preserve your own culture, because he was raised as a slave whose culture was taken from him at a young age. His many stumbles caused by these beliefs start to slowly wear away at his surety in their veracity. Even while at the end of the book he chooses his freedom over returning to the Medes, he is still unpacking many of the beliefs into which he was indoctrinated. I appreciated that it is a struggle for him to break free from his former life and relearn how to live on his own terms. It feels realistic to me.
The relationship between Costis and Kamet is a fascinating one. It is as though Kamet has never met someone who wears his heart on his sleeve before. He is constantly seeing machinations where there are none and misinterpreting Costis' words due to the prejudices he was taught about other cultures and peoples. It is through Costis that Kamet starts to realise what is can feel like to be valued by another person and to put them before yourself.
Costis and Kamet's relationship is mirrored by that of the mythology featured in this book, that of Ennikar and Immakuk. As Costis is told these stories by Kamet, we see them becoming closer themselves, leading to Kamet's most significant decision in the story - to return to save Costis. I really liked the ways language and grammar were played with in the telling of these mythologies; it felt very lyrical and like I really was reading a translation of a mythology from another culture.
Over the course of the story, his ideas are challenged. Even still, he retains many of the beliefs that he was taught by the colonialist culture he lived under. He views other countries and their citizens as inferior to the power and intellect of the Mede Empire because he was brought up in that belief and has seen it enacted upon himself. He assumes that all countries the Medes seek to conquer will fall to them eventually because his own experience has taught him that that is the outcome. He sees resistance to this as pointless and does not understand what it is to choose freely and to fight to preserve your own culture, because he was raised as a slave whose culture was taken from him at a young age. His many stumbles caused by these beliefs start to slowly wear away at his surety in their veracity. Even while at the end of the book he chooses his freedom over returning to the Medes, he is still unpacking many of the beliefs into which he was indoctrinated. I appreciated that it is a struggle for him to break free from his former life and relearn how to live on his own terms. It feels realistic to me.
The relationship between Costis and Kamet is a fascinating one. It is as though Kamet has never met someone who wears his heart on his sleeve before. He is constantly seeing machinations where there are none and misinterpreting Costis' words due to the prejudices he was taught about other cultures and peoples. It is through Costis that Kamet starts to realise what is can feel like to be valued by another person and to put them before yourself.
Costis and Kamet's relationship is mirrored by that of the mythology featured in this book, that of Ennikar and Immakuk. As Costis is told these stories by Kamet, we see them becoming closer themselves, leading to Kamet's most significant decision in the story - to return to save Costis. I really liked the ways language and grammar were played with in the telling of these mythologies; it felt very lyrical and like I really was reading a translation of a mythology from another culture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Miscarriage, Torture, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
bzliz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
This installment of the series returns to a true adventurous spirit. Kamet is the slave and secretary to the former Mede ambassador embarrassed by the Queen of Attolia. After the pair flee the country and return home, it’s back to life as usual but his enslaver continues having bad luck and ends up poisoned, to the best of Kamet’s knowledge. This event leads to him joining up with an Attolian soldier sent to steal him away anyway. Kamet and Costis join forces to power across land and sea and learn the power of friendship along the way.
It should be obvious to anyone who has read the previous books that the soldier is Costis but Kamet only refers to him as “the Attolian” until the end. I like this because a large part of Kamet’s growth is learning that other cultures and peoples are not lesser just because they’re different. The intercut tales largely pertain to two friends helping each other out of scraps and being able to pick up slack for the other, which is a perfect parallel to Kamet and Costis becoming friends on their journey.
A large portion of the book deals with the brutal reality of slaves including the hierarchy within enslaved people, different jobs they’re expected to do, bounty catchers looking for escaped slaves and more. Kamet deals with some Stockholm Syndrome-y feelings about his former master and the duo are pursued multiple times. Readers sensitive to the topic of slavery should avoid this one.
It should be obvious to anyone who has read the previous books that the soldier is Costis but Kamet only refers to him as “the Attolian” until the end. I like this because a large part of Kamet’s growth is learning that other cultures and peoples are not lesser just because they’re different. The intercut tales largely pertain to two friends helping each other out of scraps and being able to pick up slack for the other, which is a perfect parallel to Kamet and Costis becoming friends on their journey.
A large portion of the book deals with the brutal reality of slaves including the hierarchy within enslaved people, different jobs they’re expected to do, bounty catchers looking for escaped slaves and more. Kamet deals with some Stockholm Syndrome-y feelings about his former master and the duo are pursued multiple times. Readers sensitive to the topic of slavery should avoid this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Miscarriage
I’ve tagged miscarriage because near the end of the booknekoshka's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Trafficking
Moderate: Xenophobia and Murder
Minor: Miscarriage and Pandemic/Epidemic
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Violence, and War
mimeflower's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, War, and Classism
quasinaut's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Yet again, Turner has written an enthralling, entertaining story that's basically just about two men walking for days on end. But there's so much more: the insight into what Kamet really thinks about the Attolians, the hints at Eugenides's sly plans (never fully revealed until the end, of course), the myths and customs to provide depth to the story.
I have no idea how to explain why I love this series so much, but I'm sad and excited to finish the series with the next book. As always, excellent narration by Steve West.
I have no idea how to explain why I love this series so much, but I'm sad and excited to finish the series with the next book. As always, excellent narration by Steve West.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Miscarriage
nyssbomb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Murder
Minor: Terminal illness
katieconrad's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Violence
Minor: Miscarriage, Torture, and Blood
zngzag's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Violence