Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

97 reviews

otterforce'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? It's complicated

5.0

I think the first book was good, but that the series really hits its stride in this book. Interesting plot, a few twists, and the set up of some elements that I’m sure will be major parts of the next book.

Still a bit more dark than my usual reads, but it never went overly far while still keeping the stakes high and tension in place.

Looking forward to the rest of the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and War

trash_queen666's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

I love a series that gets better with each book! The story was decidedly darker and more harrowing - these characters could not catch a break! This book moved quickly and definitely kept me on my toes. It blows my mind that this series is considered YA because it deals with intense themes and graphically describes torture and murder. I was a bit disappointed by the PG-13 fade to black moment but that’s because I’m a freak. Can’t wait to read the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Violence, and War

pandapuffs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

76juliane67's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I liked this book a lot, but found it a bit weaker than the first book.
The story is captivating and very fast paced, but extremely dark with a lot of potentially triggering themes, so be aware when you pick this up.
I never usually say this about a book, but I think it could have been 100 pages longer. There were several instances when something was not explained and I was thrown out of the story because of this. I also found the progression of the

love story between Laia and Keenan

very forced and unnatural and you could see that it was written in there for a specific plot point.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Police brutality

Moderate: Rape, Terminal illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

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

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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.

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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

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

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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

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

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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!

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Content Warnings

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

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