Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

134 reviews

tori2799's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Racism, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Genocide, and Rape

jls6283's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

3.75

Like many people, I got to this book after reading ACoTaR. Here are my takeaways…

The beginning of this book does have its annoyances. It took me a while to get into this style. It’s in 3rd person, but it’s like SJM wanted to show us some of those deep, inner-thought insights like she did in ACoTaR. They seem a little off or forced in some places because we’re NOT inside the character’s head… 

With that being said, once you do get through some of the world building I actually found this book to move FASTER than the ACoTaR series because it is a little more plot driven without those long inner monologues. It does feel like it takes longer as a reader to feel connected to Celaena without her thoughts - especially if you read this book first. In hindsight, I wish I had started with Assassins Blade!

There are definitely parts where the writing seems… a little unedited…? I know it’s her first series/book so maybe it’s just that? (The rest of the series doesn’t come off that way to me- just this book.)

There are a lot of loveable characters in here - and of course a few you love to hate! I’m excited to read book 2 😁

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Gore, Slavery, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent and War

unboundbooklover's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent

laso's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and War

hxlleann'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

livvmarks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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

Such a great start to this series that I’ve been super excited to begin!! Can’t wait for the rest!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

vidotson's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: War

Minor: Rape, Slavery, Torture, and Vomit

savage_book_review's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

Since I've listened to the ACOTAR graphic audios three times since January (no, I haven't cheated and counted them as rereads...they're just my comfort books now), I figured it would probably be a good idea to switch it up and listen to the TOG audios. No graphic audios of these yet (although they are coming), so it's just the standard audiobooks read by the voice of the Maasverse, Elizabeth Evans.

I really do like the story of Throne of Glass; yes, it is relatively predictable and doesn't quite give you the full depth of the 'Life or death competiton' trope, but it's an easily digestible narrative with interesting characters and clear scope for more, which is perfectly acceptable for the opening salvo in a series. I just think it's unfortunate that  this was initially pitched as a YA series - it works, but it just feels like something is missing... it needs the extra grit, darkness and detail to bring out its full potential. 

As always, Elizabeth Evans' narration is very good - her range of voices for each character is fab; she is almost a one woman full cast! Although there are a few voices she uses that are just a bit too similar to those used in the Crescent City audios, so there were moments where I had to remind myself which Fae world I was inhabiting!

The main issue I have with this audio is pacing. I know a lot of people listen to their audios at quicker-than-normal speeds, but I just can't do it. I might be a speed reader, but I'm not a speed-listener! The upside is that I get to be fully immersed in the world. The downside is that it makes even the most pacy books feel a bit drawn out. In this case, I found the story dragged on just a leetle bit too long for my liking. I think this book suits my reading pace better, and I certainly got more out of the visual. 

But I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the series in this format. And then again in Graphic Audio format when they get her! SJM may as well have direct access to my bank account at this point...

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War

aliceloyallaleon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism