Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Das Mädchen und der Winterkönig by Katherine Arden

7 reviews

dragonaion's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

It is hard when you start a sequel to a good story; sometimes the time between each book makes the second start with a "jolt" and almost have to remember itself. This book is brilliantly connected to the first, it wove the end with the new beginning very well, and by page 30 I was leaving in my seat and excitedly turning each page. 
It was heartwarming to see a story mentioned from my childhood and the mix of history, fantasy, romance, and adventure with political intrigue was beautifully woven and naturally fell together. I have to get the third book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Rape

This is a historical fiction with a romance with an ambodiment of Death; the main character has to hide she is female is an extreme example of a patriarchal world.

magicsarah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Moderate: Animal death, Trafficking, and Death of parent

basil_touche's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

I'd say that this is even better than the first book. No word is wasted here, yet it paints such a vivid and clear story of a girl fighting for her freedom in a period that denies her that, while also trying to keep what family she has left in Moscow safe from those who seek to use her to gain power. 

Also learned some things about Medieval Russia, the whole narrative feels very well researched in that regard.

It was also quite neat to see more of the mythical beings of Russian Folklore in this, but I feel that they don't appear as much as in the first novel. However, with this story leaving certain threads unanswered, I feel that the last book of the trilogy will feature more of them while also revealing what has been hidden under the surface the last two books. I eagerly anticipate reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Self harm, Xenophobia, and Grief

Minor: Slavery

toriffic's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and War

Minor: Child abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

fatherprozac's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad 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

4.0

This was kind of a slog to get through from the beginning to middle, but once it started picking up toward the end I was hooked into the series once again so I will continue to the final book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

beholderess's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Absolutely adored the first book, but this one lost most of the magic, and the heroine is much less competent than she used to be

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Self harm, Slavery, and Kidnapping

maryellen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

I loved this more than the first book!

And loved it even more the second time. On to the third now!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Miscarriage, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail