Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

20 reviews

lada_bu_joreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

I am past annoyed with Laia and Helene. The 2 major characters who can and will control the tide of the situation are the 2 most confused characters who suddenly do not have a goal. Elias literally is willing, and does go to death to fulfill his goal and promise. While these two ding bats can't keep focused on a goal or a promise and whine so much!
Yes, Elias whines, but he also puts his money where his mouth is and gets to work. While Helene especially can't figure out if she wants to be a leader or a scared little daddy's girl. Even after multiple times by different people, even those she hate telling her to get her act together. Laia just floored me by laying up Keenan after the death of her so-called friend and Elias taking off without her. And no questions as to why or how Keenan knows what he knows or does what he does. My guy was given me creeps from t he jump and when he switched so quickly from despising her to "loving her," It's like hold up. Sus activity. And yes, stress can cause a lot of misjudging, etc. and I am glad it was mentioned that she is a horrible decision maker and leader. Because it's true. She could decide or figure herself out of a cave. The o ly thing that saved this whole book with me was Elias and Nightbringer. Their character developments saved the story, in my opinion. Even the Commandants character was true to the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

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

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

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

risten'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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Excrement, and Vomit

dawnilton's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

4.5

Wow this book was so good!! Its definitely a step up from the first part. The beginning part of the book was boring and the pacing felt a bit dragged on but the last third of the book definitely made up for everything. The plot twists blew me away. I truly didn't see them coming.

I knew that Keenan was going to betray but man I didn't him to be the nightbringer. LIKE WHAT. That whole chapter was just masterfully written. The puzzle pieces were clicking in my head just before they were spelled out on the page. Truly genius. ALSO Harpers reveal? I truly didn't see that coming. that one really took me by surprise.

The character writing was the highlight in this book. Every main and side character we got to know had such good character development and I really feel connected to them. I really enjoyed seeing Helena, Laia and Elias' journey and how their paths intertwined with each other. You could really see it all come together in the end in a satisfying and heartbreaking way. Just like book 1, I think Elias' POV was much more interesting than Laia's POV. I just felt there was so much more to explore with Elias, his mental struggle with death, dealing with his mom,

him being poisoned and him going to the realm between death and life

. Surprisingly enough, I really enjoyed Helena's character development even though I didn't like reading her POV for most of the book. 
I still have so many questions about the magic in this book.

What the deal with Laia's powers? What makes her so special? Also, WHO IS THE COOK? I truly have no clue and there is so much suspence around her!! Is she Laia's sister?

I NEED ANSWERS. You bet I'm picking up the next book after writing this review. It's too good. 
This is your sign - read the second book! It will meet all your expectations. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

This book is very graphic and deals with heavy topics. Just like the first book, it doesn't shy away from violence. Just be aware of this before going into the book.

good_names_dont_exist's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

kitsunasaur's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

4.5

A little slower than the first, but little to know repeating plot. Fair bit of time jumping and multiple pov makes time irrelevant it seems. Personal issue I found after two books, how do they tell who is Scholar and who is Martial? I’ve hear both races with varying mixes of features. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Child death

beegster16's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape