camiclarkbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
“Valiant” is the second book in Holly Black’s “Modern Faerie Tales” trilogy and features a different set of main characters than the first book, “Tithe.”
As in the first book, Black weaves a story that balances between showing the wondrous parts of fairyland and the wicked side. She puts her human characters through it, especially the main character Val.
This book was dark in a different way than “Tithe,” with much of the story centered around the main characters’ abuse of a fictional drug called Nevermore.
As in the first book, Black weaves a story that balances between showing the wondrous parts of fairyland and the wicked side. She puts her human characters through it, especially the main character Val.
This book was dark in a different way than “Tithe,” with much of the story centered around the main characters’ abuse of a fictional drug called Nevermore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Classism, Drug use, Addiction, Blood, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Death, Cursing, and Adult/minor relationship
jopriestleyx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Different cast of characters to book one (that comes back around to tie in with book one in book three) threw me off a bit, but was very interesting. Trust the process on this one.
About a group of homeless (human) teenagers trying to survive as a group on the cusp of the faerie world. They struggle with very real issues, and have very real reactions to things.
The teens use a drug called 'never' designed for Fae to deal with being around iron so much, but it also allows humans access to Fae magic. It offers intoxicating things to the isolated teens- protection, magical ability ability & closeness.
Romance in this one felt a little questionable. How old is the immortal Fae guy that committed treason?? I do not feel like you become a potion master and master swordsman within your first several decades of life
About a group of homeless (human) teenagers trying to survive as a group on the cusp of the faerie world. They struggle with very real issues, and have very real reactions to things.
The teens use a drug called 'never' designed for Fae to deal with being around iron so much, but it also allows humans access to Fae magic. It offers intoxicating things to the isolated teens- protection, magical ability ability & closeness.
Romance in this one felt a little questionable. How old is the immortal Fae guy that committed treason?? I do not feel like you become a potion master and master swordsman within your first several decades of life
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Dubious consent due to drug influence, dubious consent due to shape shifting. Heavy exploration of homelessnesscloudbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book was neither my worst read nor a favorite. For me, it was a difficult read with too much suffering and with too little fae in it. I also completely dark to recognize how this book is a second book in a trilogy. It reads as a stand-alone for the most part.
The good part is that I liked Ravus, the troll, and I wish he was a bigger part of it. But I do think it was a little too far fetched that he never noticed the sheer amount of Nevermore Val stole from him. Who doesn't notice several bottles of magic potions going missing over several weeks while the only messenger you have is so high, she can't even train properly?
I'm glad I read it but I enjoyed the first book a lot more.
The good part is that I liked Ravus, the troll, and I wish he was a bigger part of it. But I do think it was a little too far fetched that he never noticed the sheer amount of Nevermore Val stole from him. Who doesn't notice several bottles of magic potions going missing over several weeks while the only messenger you have is so high, she can't even train properly?
I'm glad I read it but I enjoyed the first book a lot more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death
Moderate: Confinement, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
halfelfschollar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This one took a little longer to get going than Tithe, despite the plot seeming to happen faster. I didn’t feel as connected to it till about half way through. That being said, I think I like the couple in this one better.
Spoiler
her mum and her boyfriend is weird thoSpoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Drug abuse, and Drug use
leahfoko's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was not a fan of all the drug use in this. I don’t think it was done badly necessarily, I think it portrayed it as dangerous and that is good, but it kinda just made me uncomfortable. Likely because I really, really hate needles.
So I found both those aspects of this book to make me like it a lot less because it was hard to read. I liked the mystery though, and all the faerie intrigue is always fun to me, I do love Holly Black’s faerie world. I liked Ravus and Val together. I liked seeing Roiben and Kaye at the end. But the drugs and the glamour sex thing was just pretty hard for me to read. So it would be good to know about those parts going into it I think.
Spoiler
Also, Dave glamouring himself to look like Luis so he could sleep with Lolli was really rapey to me and made me super uncomfortable. Dave’s character in general made me very uncomfortable.So I found both those aspects of this book to make me like it a lot less because it was hard to read. I liked the mystery though, and all the faerie intrigue is always fun to me, I do love Holly Black’s faerie world. I liked Ravus and Val together. I liked seeing Roiben and Kaye at the end. But the drugs and the glamour sex thing was just pretty hard for me to read. So it would be good to know about those parts going into it I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Rape, and Sexual assault
Spoiler
I am calling the glamoured sex with Dave and Lolli rape/sexual assault because I personally believe that it is. She was agreeing to have sex with Luis, not Dave, and she didn’t know that it wasn’t Luis. Therefore that counts as rape to me. Maybe some people would argue it isn’t, but I argue that it is.ad3l's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Animal death, and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual harassment
_hart_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This is honestly one of the wildest books I’ve ever read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Sexual content
evaef's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
sooo i was a little surprised when i started the book and i didn’t know any of the characters, I really thought we’d continue to follow Kaye and Roiben (my bad for not reading the synopsis). I also didn’t think the book was going to address topics as heavy as drug addiction in such detail and that one scene of animal cruelty……. yea, I’d encourage to see trigger warnings before reading.
About the story itself, i did enjoyed it, i liked the murder mystery aspect but it took sooo long for the story to pick up, and it was overall a bit slow.
“I would remain nearer you for what time there is.” “Gone in one faerie sigh” “I can hold my breath”.
About the story itself, i did enjoyed it, i liked the murder mystery aspect but it took sooo long for the story to pick up, and it was overall a bit slow.
Spoiler
When Ravus was introduced i imagined him more as a father figure so it was a bit weird when he turned out to be Val’s love interest, but that’s on me. After that i did enjoyed their romance and the ending lines really got me:“I would remain nearer you for what time there is.” “Gone in one faerie sigh” “I can hold my breath”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
chasesys's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Minor: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Kidnapping