Reviews tagging 'Torture'

La bruja blanca by Shelby Mahurin

32 reviews

jeunifair's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.5

EDIT.

ok this book was much better than the second one that's for sure. Loved this one in general but there were a few little things that made me really mad. I loved Lou better here, Reid too. Actually yK what, I loved almost everything in this book better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Torture, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Death and Suicide attempt

veganecurrywurst's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

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

3.25

I did like the relationship that was developing between the two main characters, although it felt at some points uncomfortably toxic. I absolutely hated the ending and the storyline between Lou her mother and the other witches. I think I'm not going to continue reading the series's due to this. The POC representation was laughable. But I would recommend reading this book if the themes generally interested you, because you might actually enjoy it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Religious bigotry

martharosen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Cursing, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Blood

mythical_molly's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

5.0

This is the book that got me back into reading. It is a beautiful star-crossed slow-burn enemies-to-lovers love story. The relationship is so well written that at some point in the book, you're probably going to sit back for a second and think "hey wait when did they develop feelings for each other?" but it feels so natural and so right that it just fits, and I think that's a testament to how well-written the slow burn is. All in all, this is a fantastic story with twists and turns that will always keep you guessing. Could not recommend it enough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Self harm, Sexual content, and Blood

thecatconstellation's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol

camryndaytona's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Torture, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Sexual assault

kazik's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Self harm, and Torture

mortonsspoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Kidnapping

jasirepe's review against another edition

funny relaxing slow-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

just kind of weird to have a fictional book but the real catholic church in it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

1.5

Um.

Well.

This book is immensely overhyped.  And I just don’t get the appeal.

Okay, so the world building is really good.  You can tell early on that Mahurin has put a lot of time and effort into the magic system and political hierarchy and I would have loved to know a lot more about these things!  This world is ripe for a good witchy story, or an ill-fated adventure.  All that was marvelous.  It was there, haunting in the background, ready to be used and exploited!  But it wasn’t.  Because this is not an adventure book.  It’s a romance.  Alas.

I don’t understand what everyone sees in Louise and Reid.  Both protagonists were exhausting.  Louise was underwhelming, unfocused and unoriginal.  Reid was all over the place with his emotions.  He made dramatic turns when it suited the story, despite the lack of build-up and evidence to lead to these major changes of heart.  I just, bleh.  I couldn’t be bothered to care about either of these characters, so I really couldn’t be bothered to care about their enemies-to-lovers Romeo and Juliet-esque romance story.

There was exactly one good character in this book, and that was Ansel.  Although he was a supporting character, Ansel showed nuance and consistency, as well as being likable. It’s not a complaint strictly about the writing, but neither Lou nor Reid was particularly likable.  Ansel’s decisions and changes of heart were driven by the information he received in the world around him.  He was hesitant and thoughtful and generally undramatic.  I liked him.

Coco had potential, but I don’t feel it really played out.  There were certainly moments where she stole the show.

Some of the writing was a little odd to me.  At times, Mahurin whipped through a scene so fast that we were there and gone in a blink, while at other times, the scenes seemed to writhe on and on and on and on to the point of exhaustion.  Sometimes scenes were general and dialogue driven.  Other times (at least three) she took the time to point out frosting on the tip of someone’s nose or cookie crumbs still dusting their lips.  How someone could go from room to room and not notice that there were still cookie crumbs on their lips – crumbs that are apparently visible from across the room – I don’t know.  It was inconsistent, so it was really difficult to get into the rhythm of the book.  All the way to the end.

This is set in 17th century France, but the language is very modern.  I didn’t even realize it was historical fiction adjacent until I’d finished the book – I thought it was pure fantasy.  Yikes.

So here is the truth, dear reader.

Many people loved Serpent & Dove, but I was bored.  Oh so very bored.  Ansel helped me stagger my way through this extremely popular book, but even his saving grace was not enough to change my mind.  Dear Ansel, I am so sorry you’re in a book this underwhelming.  I wish you much happiness and success in your fictional life, but I will never know the end of your adventures because I simply cannot bring myself to pick up Blood & Honey – I couldn’t be much less interested.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Fatphobia