Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Alas de sangre by Rebecca Yarros

70 reviews

skyfluff's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

ink_and_wings's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use and Death of parent

mojo918's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

quiet_reader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring medium-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: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Vomit, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Drug use

goblinbabe00's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

thalia16's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Drug use, Death of parent, and Murder

emis_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

A great book, i can only recommend it. It was always exciting to read, great plot twists and character development. Of course with some drama.
I loved reading about the dragons, how they interact with their rider and how they generally behave. Love Tairn and Andarna (Xaden of course too). I couldn’t put the book out of my hands and i will immediately continue with “Iron Flame”. I can’t wait.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Hate crime, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Drug use, Vomit, and Death of parent

I cried so hard when Deigh and Liam died… i can’t get over their deaths

andmingmingtoo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

3.25

This book reads like the novelization of a blockbuster action movie. There are pros and cons that come with that.

Pros:
-The general premise is really fun. I was excited to learn more about the dragon, magic, and government systems of the world
-The action sequences actually felt tense, and they definitely felt like they would be cinematic if in a visual format
-The side characters were really fun (and often eclipsed the main character in likeability)
-Xaden is an interesting and actually respectful male lead

Cons:
-A lot of Violet's inner monologue feels jarring and sometimes detracts from a tense vibe in a scene
-A lot of scenes that would be interesting and would add to the characters' growth are left offscreen, like they were cut for time, despite this being an original work where the author could decide what did and didn't exist. For instance,

most of Violet's hand-to-hand challenges occurred offscreen, even the ones where she finally wins without tricks. Like, that's a big moment for her character! I want to hear more about that!

-A lot of visual descriptions of settings were left out, like

the Parapet or what the hell a chimney formation is

-For the most part, we have to take Violet's word for it that characters, including herself, have experienced growth. The growth seems to happen offscreen and is not substantiated by their onscreen actions 

Additionally, this book is screaming to be part of a series (I am aware that the sequel is out and a series is in the works, as is a movie). In my opinion, there is no finite conclusion of the book's overall plot quest at the end, mostly because there is not one unifying plot quest. The extent of the book is defined temporally, not from a plot perspective, which can give the book the feel of a series of episodes, rather than a unifying experience.

Obviously, this book is popular! I did enjoy it, and I can see how others may enjoy it more than me. That being said, it is not a polished experience, but if you know to expect that, it may help you brace yourself and enjoy it more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Drug use and Alcohol

jessicarenz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book just got me out of my reading slump! It’s been a while since it’s taken me less than a week to read a book (around work and other schedules). Can’t wait to continue the story with Iron Flame!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Bullying, Drug use, and Classism

erkietheturkey's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Sexual content, and War

Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Drug use, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent