Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

5 reviews

clairebartholomew549's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

This is for sure the darkest book of the series so far - the bad events are pretty much unrelenting; cough cough the Red Wedding - but it also expands the universe in a really satisfying way and delves deeper into the characters' motivations and allegiances. There's also some satisfying comeuppance (Joffrey's wedding is truly a moment to relish) and interesting alliances that bring out new facets of characters (Jaime and Brienne's fraught partnership is fascinating, and Jaime remains one of the more complicated characters in the book), and the world-building is top-tier. Just like in the TV series, Dany's journey feels a bit meandering, but at least in this book it feels like she's really wrestling with what kind of ruler she wants to be and with the betrayals of the various people in her lives.

This is the first book where it feels like there is real diversion from the TV series, and I'm excited to see where the fourth and fifth books go (and the sixth and seventh if George R. Martin ever gets off his ass, which is certainly not for certain lmao).

I'm intrigued by Ramsay Bolton being married to Jeyne Poole instead of Sansa - I read an interview with the TV writers saying it felt like it made sense for all of Ramsay's terror to be inflicted on a character we actually care about, which to me is gross and speaks to the willingness of the TV writers to put female characters through trauma that even George R. Martin didn't think was necessary. It's also interesting how little sex there is in the books than there is in the series, which again speaks to the TV writers' interest in depicting female bodies and sexual violence. Finally, I'm so intrigued by the epilogue and the question of whether Cat actually survived, and I can't wait to see if the woman is a pretender or somehow the real Cat.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

13films's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

undeniably the best book so far. like i cant even stomach how great it is. clash of kings made an astounding entrance of the tyrells.

then we got the red wedding. TERRIBLE. it broke my heart the second time, much more wrenching witnessing from Catelyn's point of view for the first time . And how she never got to have another chapter again after chap. 51. like i cant believe it. she's gone.

then the purple wedding that i cheered so fucking bad like joffrey was fucking kaf kaf kafing that shit out YES! 

Tyrion in trial... terrible for him.

Sansa.... just want to hug her like terribly. My favorite stark I say.

WE GOT DUOS THAT AGED LIKE FINE WINE JAIMEBRIENNE AND ARYAHOUND <33333333333333333

WE GOT THE MARTELLS OH GOD PRINCE OBERYN. RED VIPER VS THE MOUNTAIN. JUSTICE FOR ELIA MARTELL.!!!!!

Dany accumulating the unsullied and the astapor madness... Dracarys... Daario, Jorah mormont weird and exiled.. Missandei!!! GAYNESS!!!!!

I LOVE THIS BOOK PERFECTION SCRUMPTIOUS DELICIOUS

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

msib129's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Torture, Xenophobia, Murder, and War

ellieah456's review against another edition

dark 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

This is quite possibly the best fantasy novel of all time. Not a lot compares. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

river24's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

5/5
This is a beast of a book!
It’s won its place as my favourite book in the series so far (this is the third) because it was so incredibly captivating from start to finish.
The writing is always so detailed and beautiful, I’m in awe of it !! I think it’s my absolute favourite writing style. The world is so rich and plentiful and I love discovering more and more of it.
There were so many twists and turns, every time you thought things would settle down again another twist struck you in the back of the head (in the best way possible)!!
I discovered a new all-time favourite fight scene in this book, it was written perfectly and was very emotive and powerful, too.
One of my favourite characters finally got a POV ! The characters are always so complex and fleshed out, with ever-changing morals and motivations. One of my favourite aspects of this book was the unexpected friendships and unlikely alliances of certain characters, seeing those unique dynamics was incredible.
I also loved learning more world and family history (I’m a big nerd for all aspects of world-building)
Every inch of this story was jam-packed with action and intrigue and I adored it!! It was very hefty (weighing in at almost 1200 pages!) but 100% worth it :))
Some of my favourite quotes were; ‘We are puppets dancing on the strings of those who came before us, and one day our own children will take up our strings and dance in our steads.’ ‘We look up at the same stars and see such different things.’
As a disclaimer, I do want to say that there’s obviously a lot you have to overlook in order to enjoy game of thrones and I completely understand that some people just aren’t able to do that. Please check trigger warnings before you read !! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Vomit, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Cannibalism, Abortion, and Pregnancy