Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek

20 reviews

emilywemily6's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

I quite enjoyed this! I loved how the story was so rooted in Polish folk tales, it makes me want to read more stories like it. I also really enjoyed the protagonists and their interactions. The character growth throughout the story was so interesting! I wasn't a huge fan of the romance, but it was pretty secondary to the actual relationship between the main characters. I enjoyed the secondary characters too and I feel like I will get more out of this book on a reread. The ending fit the dark fairytale vibe of the story, as a YA story this one was really good!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Sexual content

kaz_brekkerrr's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Murder

rochelleisreading's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content

Minor: Abandonment

blewballoon's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad fast-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

4.5

I admit I bought this based on the cover, and I can happily say that the cover matches the tone and quality of the book very well. I would recommend this to fans of Howl's Moving Castle the Studio Ghibli film (not the book it's based on), but the atmosphere is somewhat darker and less fanciful. I would also compare it to Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, but the writing felt closer to the characters and easier to submerge into. I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrator did a great job of  handling the complex pronunciations and reflecting Liska's positive attitude in the face of danger and horror. 

I expected the ending, but I hoped I might be wrong. The epilogue offers a small glimmer of hope.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

alexijai98's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

Was going to give this less than 3 stars but it did nearly bring me to tears at the end so! Overall a fine read, if you’re a fan of Hannah Whitten’s For the Wolf you’d enjoy this!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Sexism and Religious bigotry

Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

atypicalley's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.25

There is some truly delectable description tucked away in here, if you can stomach the present tense (which always throws me off when I see it, but worked well). 

Lovingly rendered Polish legends, tenderly worded enemies to lovers, and a stellar ending. 

If I had any complaints, it’s the combination of a slow pacing and a difficulty understanding how, exactly, magic actually works in this world — given the way the book works, they’re tied together. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

main character death, tragic end with a bittersweet hope for a souls return

readbyjaimes's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.0

I liked the story it was honestly a really enjoyable read. I really loved the Howl's Moving Castle vibes. But, I found myself never really connecting with the characters. I don't know if this was a book-slump situation or if it was the writing style that made me feel so distant from the characters. 

Hateddddd the ending.

If it's not a happy ending, I don't want to read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Minor: Sexual content

abby_can_read's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

📖
I had high hopes for this book. I think this lived up to my hopes. I liked the worldbuilding and the lore and the magic systems. I liked the relationship between Liska and The Leszy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Violence, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

writingandwhimsy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

callistag1's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent