Reviews tagging 'Blood'

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

64 reviews

alexasolis98's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

This book makes me feel very conflicted. Like so much happened and not at all. Time and locations at times don't make sense. Laia and Elias are working to free Darin from Kauf. With the help of Afya, Keenan and Izzi. Eventually our group splits and Elias ends up with a side quest-ish. Helene is tasked with tracking down Elias. And the Commandant is up to no good.

At the end when Laia is told that she should take her brother to healers in Marinn because he has been knocked out for a MONTH! Homegirl says no, she's go it. Like i get it he wakes up like the night after but how does that make sense.

Another thing, this is probably more of a personal thing but

I fucking hate the Augurs. I hate when the future is known and people have to suffer for the desired outcome of that future, as if people aren't dynamic. The Augurs say things that make it seem like the characters have a choice, however, they are essentially making those choices for them. Telling Helene she has to be broken and then made. So many people die, and they know this will happen and yet they do nothing. They give people vague information but do not do anything to help. I hope it is explained why they stand and do nothing except shape the future the way they want it to go.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

mj1588's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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, Child death, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

erwikka's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

This series just gets better with every installment. No second book syndrome here. I loved having a new POV and it really made the character lodge themselves deeper into my heart. Sabaa’s writing is spectacular and will have you so engrossed you will be lost for hours or until you finish. I don’t wanna dive too deep into the plot because of spoilers, but this book really up’d the anti. I’m foaming at the mouth for book three so I will have to start it soon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and War

amelia_rose_20's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

9/10 | "A Torch Against the Night" is a thrilling continuation that captivates with its fast pace and action-packed narrative. I particularly loved Helene's character development and am eager to see even more of her in future installments.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

alexijai98's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

The last 50 pages kept me from giving this 5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content

zozoann's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

So much progression happens in this book I almost had a hard time keeping up. I loved it so much and this series is becoming a new top series for me. I loved the new perspective we got and it added so much to the mystery of the plot.

I have so many emotions about Keenan being the nightbringer so much confusion.

overall this book keeps me guessing which I love. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Sexual content

risten's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Excrement, and Vomit

rexpostfacto's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Sexual content

c_l_ara's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

joylehua_95's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This series has been great so far. I really enjoy the themes of morality, friendship, and loyalty. I also love the rawness of the story in how the Empire is this oppressive entity. Some members of the empire, even though they benefit from the power, are still victims of the system. The societal themes in this book are great talking points, and there are many parallels to current day/ past conflicts with oppressor/oppressed groups. 

Elias is my favorite character. He is selfless and brave, but this can also be a hindrance to his growth. He feels he hurts the ones he loves, so he feels he needs to isolate. When really, it's his love and general humanity that is his strong point.  I love Laia, I feel she has grown into herself. She has become brave, sure of herself. She is no longer the girl that ran away. 

I am not fully entrenched in Helene's story yet; I have not fully connected with her in this book. However, I feel for her character, though, because, unlike Elias, she is deep in the grasp of the Empire. She sacrificed herself, her freedom for Elias and the greater good of the Empire.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail