Reviews tagging 'Violence'

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

144 reviews

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

imskylow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad 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? No

4.5

This was very good but also very hard to read with all of the genocide and torture happening in our world right now. There were definitely several times I had to put the book down and take a break. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and War

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

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

kdsmoove's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Murder

vickybuka's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide and Violence

maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Book 2 in the An Ember in the Ashes series! I love the multiple POVs set in a world of reviving magic and militant brutality. This time we follow Bloodshrike Helene, Fugitive Elias, and Rebel Laia as they race to figure out what is truly going on, while desperately trying to protect the ones they love.

We pick up the storylines right where we ended in Book 1, and it’s a mad dash from there. So many choices to be made and tragedies to endure, questions answered and more questions needing answers. Each are put in seemingly impossible situations that have them evaluating what truly matters. Life and Death are always in the balance, and we see a lot of loss sprinkled with hope in this second installment of the series. I love that some twists were predictable (excellent clues all throughout) and that some were so startling as to keep me on my toes as a reader. Very excited to see what happens in book 3!

Honestly, a fabulous second book! I didn’t feel like it dragged and found myself at the edge of my seat and gasping all throughout. This series is quickly becoming a top favorite series along with Harry Potter and Throne of Glass.

THINGS CONSIDERED SCORE 98/100

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Death