Reviews tagging 'Murder'

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

82 reviews

mariainestb'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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Murder

lada_bu_joreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

I am past annoyed with Laia and Helene. The 2 major characters who can and will control the tide of the situation are the 2 most confused characters who suddenly do not have a goal. Elias literally is willing, and does go to death to fulfill his goal and promise. While these two ding bats can't keep focused on a goal or a promise and whine so much!
Yes, Elias whines, but he also puts his money where his mouth is and gets to work. While Helene especially can't figure out if she wants to be a leader or a scared little daddy's girl. Even after multiple times by different people, even those she hate telling her to get her act together. Laia just floored me by laying up Keenan after the death of her so-called friend and Elias taking off without her. And no questions as to why or how Keenan knows what he knows or does what he does. My guy was given me creeps from t he jump and when he switched so quickly from despising her to "loving her," It's like hold up. Sus activity. And yes, stress can cause a lot of misjudging, etc. and I am glad it was mentioned that she is a horrible decision maker and leader. Because it's true. She could decide or figure herself out of a cave. The o ly thing that saved this whole book with me was Elias and Nightbringer. Their character developments saved the story, in my opinion. Even the Commandants character was true to the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

otterforce's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I think the first book was good, but that the series really hits its stride in this book. Interesting plot, a few twists, and the set up of some elements that I’m sure will be major parts of the next book.

Still a bit more dark than my usual reads, but it never went overly far while still keeping the stakes high and tension in place.

Looking forward to the rest of the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and War

trash_queen666's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

I love a series that gets better with each book! The story was decidedly darker and more harrowing - these characters could not catch a break! This book moved quickly and definitely kept me on my toes. It blows my mind that this series is considered YA because it deals with intense themes and graphically describes torture and murder. I was a bit disappointed by the PG-13 fade to black moment but that’s because I’m a freak. Can’t wait to read the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Violence, and War

pandapuffs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

hixxie25's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Death of parent

mariahlynnpeck'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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War

emilywemily6's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

This author can do no wrong, especially with this series. I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one. The writing is beautiful, the characters are nuanced and full of turmoil, and I was on the edge of my seat through all the twists and turns that were both unexpected and yet fit the character arcs exactly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Slavery

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

readwithria's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

A Torch Against the Night takes the world we learned about in the first book and expands upon it. We have left Serra, and traveled across the Martial Empire, and in doing so have not only learned more about the world, but about the characters within it.

I really enjoyed the addition of Helene’s POV! I liked seeing more of the inner workings of the empire, and more of the politicking that happens within it. She has a very interesting character arc, and I can’t wait to see where it takes her.

I also think Laia had an interesting arc in this book. She really learned how to harness her strength and bravery, and I’m looking forward to seeing more growth from her over the next two books, especially since her main motivation from the first two books is now complete.

Elias is, as usual, such a constant. I think that it will be interesting to see how his new circumstances change him over the rest of the series.

I’m hoping that in the next few books we get more magic, more politics, and more character development. I think they’re all on the right track, but I want more of everything in the next two books. 4 stars

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Sexual content