Reviews tagging 'Murder'

A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

42 reviews

what_karla_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Child death

bzliz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

I’m actually sad it took me so long to invest myself in this world because Sabaa Tahir is masterful at picking up plotlines laid throughout the rest of the series and giving them real stakes with incredibly complex characters who are very comfortable in their murky gray morality. There’s great payoff without making readers feel like they were purposely led astray with red herrings. 

Tahir’s female characters in particular show incredible growth and weave together strength with emotion. Laia’s story embodies the value of empathy and the final scene with Keris is utterly heartbreaking and shows that we as people can suffer greatly and it is our response to that suffering that shapes our future. Helene’s journey is my favorite. She began the series as the token girl having to fight twice as hard as the guys to command respect while nursing feelings for the main male character and being taught those feelings make her weak. She makes mistakes and does horrible things (and has horrible things happen to her) but she learns and grows as she unlearns the awful values passed on by previous generations of the Empire. 

There are some heartbreaking character deaths that make sense because of the brutal nature of this world and the Nightbringer’s plan, though that doesn’t make them hurt less. Without them, the story would have felt unbalanced and our main characters need that grief to become the people they’re meant to be. 

I cannot recommend this series highly enough! But mind the content warnings if you are sensitive to specific topics. 

Content warnings:
Blood, body horror, death, gore, injury, murder, violence, war (on page):

Spoiler

this is a story of war between human factions plus humans against magical beings. I don’t recommend this if you cannot stomach violence because it is graphic and prevalent.

Death of parent (on page, flashback):

Spoiler

Laia learns her mother is still alive and sees how her father and sister really died.

Domestic abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse (on page):

Spoiler

Marcus abuses his wife including while she is pregnant in order to emotionally manipulate Helene who is forced to endure her sister’s torment.

Fire/fire injury (on page):

Spoiler

The Jinn burn down a library containing information Laia needs and she is nearly trapped inside.

Classism (on page):

Spoiler

The aristocrats of the Empire actively look down on and rebel against Marcus because he is of a lower class than them.

Medical content, pregnancy (on page):

Spoiler

Medical content in the form of healing from battlefield injuries & pregnancy content. Livia is pregnant with Marcus’ heir and she experiences some complications including attempts at forcing a miscarriage. Laia delivers her baby during a battle.

Slavery (on page):

Spoiler

Scholars have long been enslaved by the Martials. Keris keeps slaves as she attempts her coup. Livia as Empress Regent frees the Scholars.

Sexism (on page):

Spoiler

Enemies actively look down on Helene for being a woman. Martial aristocrats do the same before being put in their places.

Sexual content (on page):

Spoiler

Consensual encounters between Helene & Avitas and between Laia & Elias. Generally non-graphic and centered on the emotional connection rather than the act itself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Blood, Murder, Violence, War, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Classism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexism, Medical content, Classism, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Slavery

atla98's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Murder, War, Gore, Grief, Genocide, and Child death

Moderate: Sexual content

esconce's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

AHHH I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Its such a good conclusion and though I hate final books this one makes it seem so amazing.. especially with the final Laia POV and its just EEEEE. The Nightbringer POV also really just ads depth to the whole situation. There were really good plot twists and it was just a very fitting ending to one of my favorite book series ever.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Child death, Bullying, Blood, Death, War, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Sexism, Grief, Violence, Slavery, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

beegster16's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, War, Murder, and Grief

Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Abandonment, and Vomit

madamenovelist's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Genocide, Sexual violence, War, Violence, Xenophobia, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Medical content, Murder, Colonisation, Gore, Body horror, Blood, Grief, and Child death

blubonby's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad 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

ouch

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, War, Grief, and Murder

kriti's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

redhothabanero'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

4.0

This one was the weakest out of the four for me. I felt like it dragged on too much and the death of 

Spoiler

Avitas Harper

felt unnecessary. Like let my girl be happy, she deserves it! Also the un-death of 

Spoiler

cook was out of nowhere and felt cheap. Like we just need somebody to take over Elias' job so here she is.

Lastly, the death we were all waiting for after four books of hearing how absolutely EVIL she was felt unsatisfactory. If you're gonna give us her causing countless deaths, including children then she shouldn't get a quick death. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Grief and Slavery

zcammack's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

Moderate: Violence, War, Murder, Grief, and Death