Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

127 reviews

cayliehausman's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

This story was nothing like I expected and it gave us so much information, as well as introducing us to some new (and old) faces. Again–I cannot recommend the tandem read enough, the way the information layers between books and helps you form a more full picture is a reader is absolutely crazy in the best way. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: War

literarymary95's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

I wasn't sure how I would feel about reading a book entirely about Chaol and Nesryn (But let's be honest, it is really about Chaol). It was actually a really well done story and ties in events from the rest of the story really well and what's obviously to come in the last book, Kingdom of Ash.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Murder

emilywemily6's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful tense slow-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

Did I like this more than Empire of Storms?? Crazy. It was definitely slower paced, but felt very cohesive. I also loved that Chaol had a beautiful redemption arc- I hated him the last few books and this book actually changed my mind. I really appreciated getting to see the nuance and inner turmoil of his character. I adore Yrene and I also love Nesryn and Sartaq and felt like I was interested/invested in every plot line of this book. It ends much more hopeful than EoS so I feel like it fits in the series better before EoS if you don’t want to do the tandem read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Torture, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, and Alcohol

pumpkaboola's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Slavery

hanni693's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, and War

savage_book_review's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious 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

I have conflicting thoughts on this book having now read it as its own entity rather than as part of the tandem read. One one hand, it feels like a side-quest or spin off, rather than part of the main narrative arc, and while I don't really get the general hate for Chaol, having him as the main character and away from the rest of the group doesn't help lift the storyline. However, at the same time this is the first book in the series where I've felt that inexplicable draw to just keep reading/listening, even when it's going to make me late/keep me up/stop me from doing more important things. And not just because I wanted to get through it so I could start Kingdom of Ash. I was just more invested than I was expecting! 

I like the final pairings that result from this story, but then all of the pairings up to now have felt 'right', and they've mostly fallen apart! There's a lot of serial monogamy going on, and while it doesn't sit quite right with me just how quickly the various feelings seem to come and go, I can appreciate that it's a good illustration of the characters' growth. That being said, the writing of the developing relationships here is a bit clunky in places; the change in Yrene's feelings especially feels really uneven. Considering how good SJM is at writing the enemies-to-lovers trope, this one really falls short of the mark.

I also love that, even with Aelin sidelined, little tidbits if her story so far start to pay dividends here. The reader gets to be in the know while characters remain in the dark (to an extent), and some of the payoffs that result are beautifully done. 

But. This read through is also the first time I've found myself getting annoyed with one of SJM's writing 'tics'... I can laugh about the vulgar gestures and the watery bowels, but the amount of times she measures moments in heartbeats really started to get to me. I probably don't pick up on this as much when physically reading the books (and I don't recall it ever bothering me in previous reads), but the phrasing, coupled with the narrators almost identical inflections every single time this came up really makes the sheer volume of usage stand out.

Quick question regarding the narrator and Yrene's voice... am I going mad, or has she dropped the accent she used for Yrene is Assassin's Blade? Seems very unlike her to change the voice of a character half way through...

I am able-bodied, and cannot imagine being in Chaol's situation. Indeed, I suspect I'd be as desperate for a cure as he is. But I appreciate that the 'disabled person hating themselves because they can't walk' storyline has been used elsewhere in the past, and has been criticised for belittling the people and emotions behind these scenarios. Obviously in this case the fantasy setting makes a cure more readily available, and Chaol's emotions are part of the problem, but I just keep wondering if his character arc (and 'redemption' for want of a better word) would have been better served by his having to adapt and grow despite his disability? But then would it fit the world the character lives in? I just don't know.

Overall, this book is definitely better read in tandem with 'Empire of Storms', but nevertheless is still engaging and stands on its own merits. It certainly is not the best book in the series, but is a nice little breather before the emotional rollercoaster of KoA.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

g_monaghan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad slow-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

4.25

Apparently people miss this book out in the series but I really enjoyed it!
Definitely a slower pace to the others in the series so far.
Heavy on the genghis khan references and political intrigue/courtly drama.
The references to Assassin's blade were perfect, everything I could have wished for and more and I'm happy Nesryn finally got a man who values her fully, nothing better happen to either of them

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

scarlett_f's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: War

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Slavery, Vomit, Abandonment, and Alcohol

merrow's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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

4.75

An almost relaxing turn in the midst of this series, but still maintaining the mystery and global stakes. The book feels generally hopeful and introduces a new part of the world well, and is only let down by the characters’ very occasional childish behaviour.

Yrene is a very engaging character, and Chaol and Nesryn both grow to find their places in the series. Very interesting revelations and the setting contrasts very well with the northern continent.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

mrsalexisrjones's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.75

Chaol and Nestryn’s journey to the southern kingdom had two goals: rally the troops and restore Chaol. 

They accomplished both

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Torture, and Medical content

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, and War

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide, Stalking, and Pregnancy