Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

54 reviews

karambit's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Infertility and Alcohol

seastheday's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

I really enjoyed this first book in the duology spin off series. Although It was not as good as the Cruel Prince, it definitely a great read. And it kept world-building in a gentle way that was easily built into the characters interactions as well as the plot. I saw a review that said there was a character assassination. I do not find this to be true. If you paid attention at all, every clue was there right from the beginning. So, I will no longer be taking book rec’s from someone that literally cannot pay attention to foreshadowing. 
      Anyways, this is worth the read. I’m excited for the next one! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Death

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit and Death of parent

noellegrace8's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

Unlike some Folk of the Air lovers who were disappointed in the lack of Cardan & Jude or a similar relationship dynamic, I was blown away by Black's ability to formulate a completely captivating story with far less use of such a dramatic love duo. I personally think Oak and Suren are a lovely duo, albeit less romantically present in their story than Jude & Cardan were in theirs. I actually think it's much harder to write a great story without the easier elements such as romance/sex & violence, so this book was next level in my opinion. I found myself hurting for Suren so many times to the point that I actually teared up, loving her adherance to kindness, and pleasantly surprised by plot elements. And the casual drops/updates about Jurdan and their reign? Love that. I just love Elfhame so much. I hope Holly Black keeps writing about it.

I give Saskia Maarleveld 5/5⭐️. Her narration was great, with distinction between characters and what I thought was a wonderful depiction of Suren's character through cadence & voice choices. Additionally, unlike many women narrators, I didn't find her male vocal imitation to be cheesy or too much. It did kind of bug me that she said soo-ren instead of ser-ren though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

wintert_ide's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

nexusthegreat's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? N/A

5.0

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. I actually loved this book so much that as soon as I finished it, I was already flipping to the first page of prisoners throne. The plot twist was something I saw coming for quite awhile, but not that character development and ending!! Like, what?? Absolutely, one of my favorite books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Physical abuse and Kidnapping

saretta02's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Abandonment

daenerystargaryen'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Infertility, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

jessversteeg's review against another edition

3.5

Back to Faerie to see what’s happening with Oak. 

Another good book in the series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and War

dragon_named_fox's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

Holly Black really writes wonderful books. Despite Surren's character development she doesn't entirely change. Years of trauma aren't wiped away, but she does realize she has more power over her life than she thought. I'm so excited to read the second book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Kidnapping, and Stalking

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

This is a dark fantasy with violence and main characters who went through a lot of trauma from a young age. These abuses are mentioned often and explicitly from time to time, but each mention is fairly brief.

llcardenas's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail