Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

125 reviews

mariahlynnpeck's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

emilywemily6's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? No

5.0

This author can do no wrong, especially with this series. I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one. The writing is beautiful, the characters are nuanced and full of turmoil, and I was on the edge of my seat through all the twists and turns that were both unexpected and yet fit the character arcs exactly.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Slavery

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Confinement and Torture

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

readwithria'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A Torch Against the Night takes the world we learned about in the first book and expands upon it. We have left Serra, and traveled across the Martial Empire, and in doing so have not only learned more about the world, but about the characters within it.

I really enjoyed the addition of Helene’s POV! I liked seeing more of the inner workings of the empire, and more of the politicking that happens within it. She has a very interesting character arc, and I can’t wait to see where it takes her.

I also think Laia had an interesting arc in this book. She really learned how to harness her strength and bravery, and I’m looking forward to seeing more growth from her over the next two books, especially since her main motivation from the first two books is now complete.

Elias is, as usual, such a constant. I think that it will be interesting to see how his new circumstances change him over the rest of the series.

I’m hoping that in the next few books we get more magic, more politics, and more character development. I think they’re all on the right track, but I want more of everything in the next two books. 4 stars

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Sexual content

marlene_suntie_helton's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Blood

kayceeisbookish's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.25

Really enjoyed it. Fell like the story slowed a little with all the travel, but it made up for it with all the twists!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

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. 

---

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.

---

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, and Grief

Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence