Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

187 reviews

jjamieww's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It was a pretty basic book to be honest. She was portrayed as having little to no flaws. The love interest was perfect and did everything for her. I am underwhelmed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Abandonment

jules09's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

Ok, overall my feeling is: concept 10/10, execution 6/10. It started a little slow and I really thought this would be a 2-star read but the twists in the last third or so of the book bumped it up for me. The concept is what kept me going. I think the writing is pretty so-so, not terrible but there are many instances when things are over-explained, and some of the motivations/dynamics of the characters stretch belief. Dark subject matter was addressed in a very YA way. Kiva is an interesting main, though - the way she views the world through the lens of compassion and generally has an iron control of herself is something I found pretty unique compared to other YA heroines. She has many layers.

I definitely predicted a couple of the reveals, but I also was pretty surprised by some which made for a fun and engaging read once it got going. Interested to read the next one. I’m glad I read this on audio (though the reader was not my favorite) because if I was physically reading, I probably would have given up on it before getting far enough in to be hooked (the 2/3 mark), but for audio it was perfect to have it on in the background of chores, etc.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug abuse, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

The warnings sound like a lot, and some parts are definitely heavy (they’re in a death prison where abuse of power and dehumanization run rampant), but it’s still ultimately a YA read. I think it’s very comparable to Throne of Glass.

remiconnolly's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

There were lots of surprises. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Torture, and Violence

joisaddler's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Death of parent

niamh248's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence

taliaalongi's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape

bekahzabel's review

dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The Prison Healer is a dark YA fantasy about a girl named Kiva who was locked away at 7 years old into a prison called Zalindov. Guilty by association, her and her father are convicted against treason to the crown. 

Now 10 years later, Kiva uses the healing skills her father taught her as the head Prison Healer. When the Rebel Queen arrives at the prison extremely sick, Kiva is tasked with keeping her alive. The rebel queen is sentenced to elemental trials, and when she’s too sick to participate, Kiva volunteers to take her place in the trials. Trials that no one has ever survived before, to earn her freedom. 

I really enjoyed this one and it did intrigue and hook me within the first 100 pages. Some very solid plot twists although at times things felt slightly repetitive in the middle, I realized by the end how all of it was tying factors and plot points together. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys magical trials, dark fantasy settings, a touch of romance along the way, and found family.

4 solid stars 🌟

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use and Self harm

bookylarz's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Drug abuse

vcthompson's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

The first twist I *mostly* saw coming but that final twist? I was shook. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a third person limited book where  protagonist purposely hides information and leads the reader to believe a completely different narrative until the final reveal, so that was fun for me. I’ll be going into the second book picking apart the narrative to see if the protagonist is being fully truthful to us the readers, or if she’s leading me into another direction again until her next reveal.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Torture, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

x_rosered's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Self harm