Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

71 reviews

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

letiross's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Death, Torture, and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and War

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

nonotyoshi's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

nyasr's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment

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

dramagirl2003'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

sadly i didn’t enjoy this as much as
The Folk of the Air, but it was still good. this book is from wren’s perspective, so that was a change to get used to. i was bored for the first 45%, but to be fair i didn’t really fully get into The Cruel Prince until the last 40% of it either, so i guess i can forgive the rough start. not a writing issue but a me issue was that oak was literally a child in The Folk of the Air, so to read him as a love interest this time was strange and ever so slightly cringey, the same way i feel with younger siblings and their partners

thoughts while reading

p120: well this is fairly reminiscent isn’t it

p235: i knew it! that’s so cute 🥺

p241: don’t take her hairpin 😡

p248: AHHHHH THAT’S WHAT JUDE SAID TOO

p292: damn that was actually pretty hot

p342: wait a damn minute

wren’s heart must be mellith’s!!!

p350: this is absolutely insane

quotes

I find them both disconcerting and fascinating in equal measure.

I am drawn to watching his face, as though through his dreams, I will learn his secrets.
Something is very wrong with me.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit

vexedrabbit's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.5

The vibes are immaculate. But this book is pretty disappointing. Oak is exactly like Carden, and I don't really see him as his own character. There's lots of talking but next to no showing. Wren also becomes the biggest piece of shit in the last few chapters, which honestly I felt was a complete 180 on her character. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

callidoralblack's review against another edition

adventurous emotional

• Loveable characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism