Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

78 reviews

abby_can_read's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

📖
I had a wonderful time reading this book. I'm glad I'm easily influenced and someone convinced me to read this series. I liked Laia and Elias and their relationship. The worldbuilding was good. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Grief

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

alexasolis98's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

This book makes me feel very conflicted. Like so much happened and not at all. Time and locations at times don't make sense. Laia and Elias are working to free Darin from Kauf. With the help of Afya, Keenan and Izzi. Eventually our group splits and Elias ends up with a side quest-ish. Helene is tasked with tracking down Elias. And the Commandant is up to no good.

At the end when Laia is told that she should take her brother to healers in Marinn because he has been knocked out for a MONTH! Homegirl says no, she's go it. Like i get it he wakes up like the night after but how does that make sense.

Another thing, this is probably more of a personal thing but

I fucking hate the Augurs. I hate when the future is known and people have to suffer for the desired outcome of that future, as if people aren't dynamic. The Augurs say things that make it seem like the characters have a choice, however, they are essentially making those choices for them. Telling Helene she has to be broken and then made. So many people die, and they know this will happen and yet they do nothing. They give people vague information but do not do anything to help. I hope it is explained why they stand and do nothing except shape the future the way they want it to go.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

notapenguin's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Grief

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

mj1588's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

A Torch Against the Night is a good fantasy sequel. It definitely has its moments of slowness, but thankfully, there's a bit of mystery/waiting for the other foot to drop that makes you want to keep reading. You also get a bit more into the fantasy elements. 

The reveal in this one!!!! I screamed!!! I definitely wasn't expecting it. The addition of Helene's POV really added to the story. She's such an interesting character to follow. I enjoyed getting to see Laia's fighting/training develop a bit more. She's not the same girl from that first chapter; Elias isn't the same boy from that chapter either. He's challenged just as much as Laia in this one. 

I've got more questions than answers at this point and I'm really looking forward to getting those answers. I'm a little late to the game, but don't let that stop you from picking up this series. It's so good! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Grief

Minor: Rape and Sexual content

chrisb913's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

This book was incredible. The plot hooked me from page 1 and did not let up throughout the entire story. The plot twists had me shook and the character development throughout was superb. Between Ember in the Ashes and now A Torch Against the Night, Sabaa Tahir will forever be an insta buy author for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Grief

Minor: Rape and Sexual content

erwikka's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

This series just gets better with every installment. No second book syndrome here. I loved having a new POV and it really made the character lodge themselves deeper into my heart. Sabaa’s writing is spectacular and will have you so engrossed you will be lost for hours or until you finish. I don’t wanna dive too deep into the plot because of spoilers, but this book really up’d the anti. I’m foaming at the mouth for book three so I will have to start it soon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and War

jpfortmiller's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, and Violence

linde_ahobbit's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad 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? No

4.5

I fly through these books. The story is unique and keeps you on your toes. The only thing I don't like as much is the romance aspect. It feels a bit forced in my opinion. Other than that, I loved the book. And I will definitely be reading the other two books in this series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Slavery, and Torture

zozoann's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

So much progression happens in this book I almost had a hard time keeping up. I loved it so much and this series is becoming a new top series for me. I loved the new perspective we got and it added so much to the mystery of the plot.

I have so many emotions about Keenan being the nightbringer so much confusion.

overall this book keeps me guessing which I love. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Sexual content