Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer

9 reviews

beautifulpaxielreads's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Defend the Dawn is a worthy second book in the Defy the Night trilogy.

Brigid Kemmerer has delivered mightily in terms of character and plot. It is well-paced, with a good mix of both action scenes and quieter moments, as well as several well-timed twists - especially towards the end of the novel. The character work is excellent (almost too good in places, there were times when I felt Kemmerer was telling us how the characters were feeling rather than showing it). My favourite thing about this series so far has been the close relationship between brothers Harristan and Corrick, and Defend the Dawn offers up plenty to savour there (although I still could have used more!).

I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next in this series and how all the various plot threads will be resolved.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Blood, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent and Confinement

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Child abuse, and War

The

"kill your gays" trope is used here

.

fremzz's review against another edition

adventurous medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Death, Kidnapping, and Blood

Minor: Grief

maidmarianlib's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Such a great continuation, but it ends on a major cliffhanger, can't wait for the next one.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping

bookishgoob's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Toxic relationship, War, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Child death, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Misogyny

lujisa's review against another edition

adventurous fast-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Blood

Minor: Sexual content, War, Kidnapping, and Torture

verk's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

Me encantó este libro! Lo leí rapidísimo porque no podía dejarlo.
Ahora son más puntos de vista, lo que lo hace súper ágil. 
Hay nuevos personajes, interesantes y misteriosos.
Los personajes secundarios del libro anterior tienen más protagonismo. Y los personajes principales siguen siendo de lo mejor. 
AMO A CORRICK, pero fuerte! Jjjajaja. Que personaje que me encanta! 
Las intrigas políticas siguen y todo se va a expandiendo, incluso a países vecinos, así que se está poniendo cada vez más interesante la cosa.
En este libro Brigid me dio todo lo que quería. Sinceramente esto era lo que quería leer: acción, aventura, intrigas políticas, romance. Lo tiene todo y con el estilo de ella.
Lo recomiendo 1000%.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Confinement, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

kbairbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.5

Holy. That ending?! Oh my gosh! The stems are poison? Who started this? Lochlan and Corrick have been captured by Orin Crane! What about his daughter?! Did she get away?? Is the little girl okay?! Holy wow. Now Tessa is going to be taught by Rocco how to fight. Does this mean she has to be the one to make the decisions now?? For the trade agreement?? Are the rebels gonna follow Harristan?? Omg this is crazy. I can’t wait for book three!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, War, Kidnapping, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Violence

theespressoedition's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Brigid, you continue to blow me away with your incredibly immersive and breathtaking worlds. This book is yet another masterpiece!

As someone who is often disappointed by sequels for whatever reason (not as exciting as the first, slow and politically heavy, characters take a nosedive, etc.) I can easily say that Defend the Dawn did not let me down in the slightest. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when starting it, but by the time I finished, I was an emotional wreck who really didn't want to put it down!

One thing that does hold true to Brigid's other sequels is that you will find yourself disliking characters you loved previously. I used to think that this was something I didn't enjoy in her books, but after seeing it happen more than once, I can now objectively say that it's a really strategic move that winds up benefiting the story overall. These characters - both beloved and brand new - are so detailed and really take you on an emotional rollercoaster!

The start of the story is a bit slower, but it doesn't take long for things to pick up. Before you know it, you'll be holding your breath, poring over every word, not even realizing how many chapters have flown by. It sucks you in! I think that having each chapter told from a different perspective makes a huge difference here. It gives you a much broader view of the story and helps you understand all of the elements in a more detailed way. I especially enjoyed reading from the POV of "The Outlaw" (who I will not reveal in this review so as to avoid spoilers).

THAT ENDING!!! I wasn't anticipating what was coming in the final chapters and it surprised the heck out of me... and made me furious that the next book couldn't be in my hands immediately after I finished! I can't wait for whatever comes next in the world of Tessa and Corrick.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Kidnapping and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Classism, Death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and War

Minor: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury