Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Rache im Herzen by Xiran Jay Zhao

706 reviews

smellymiche's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Death, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault and Torture

jmermelstein14's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Violence, Body horror, and War

Minor: Sexual violence

alex_salamander's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, War, and Sexism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Torture

Minor: Fatphobia, Grief, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Ableism, Body shaming, Rape, Slavery, Physical abuse, and Bullying

louiserj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Body horror

hearkenheretic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Addiction, Child abuse, Sexism, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Violence, Misogyny, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Genocide, Body shaming, Alcohol, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent

sydneys_bookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-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

5.0

oh jesus this is my fantasy/science fiction read of the year.

SHIMIN IS ALIVE AND THE GODS ARE KEEPING HIM HOSTAGE????

i’m feeling distraught. help, the second book isn’t out until next year. help me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, War, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Torture

cherry_lake's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

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

4.75

What a ride!! Omg I haven’t read a book like that in so long. Dynamic, unapologetic story of vengeance, power, love and war. It was like watching an anime. While this book is not highly detailed in its world building, it is sooo evocative and exciting, and it’s the first in a series so I’m actually so pleased with the amount of world building!! Can’t wait for more. Thank you Xiran Jay Zhao! 

If you’re wondering if you should read it… if you are tired of watered down dystopian YA novels, moralizing characters, mind NUMBING gender stereotypes (I’m including the stereotypes of the characters who are supposedly breaking the stereotypes as well!!), pussyfooting romance plot lines that are too afraid to commit — then this you might really love.

Also, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is phenomenal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Murder, Alcoholism, Death, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Body horror, Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

bujo_bellel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

OMG I seriously really enjoyed this book, the world building, how things work, the characters SO GOOD. I really loved the characters, even though I think that Zetian is low-key going too far sometimes but I still love her. I really liked seeing how Zetian and Shimin bonded and seeing how Shimin slowly started falling for Zetian. I also liked seeing Yizhi and Zetian together like Yizhi is SO sweet!!  The magic(?) system was really well built and unique like DAMN. I really liked that there was Yin and Yang and all the different types and the mechas are so cool. I was so entertained reading this book and the world is literally so interesting. I really liked the build up and introduction of the world and its characters and I will be reading the next book. Also all 3 of them were so badass in the end love love!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Violence

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Torture

anni_o's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring 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

Shit, I really really enjoyed this! Zetian is an amazing main character, even tho it all gets really dark, especially towards the end. I really understand her though, and her struggles make her actions understandable af. I really liked the fight descriptions, I could totally imagine the Pacific rim like battles and it was really exciting. I can only imagine the feeling of power it gives a young woman like her to pilot such a robot

and the devastation when she finds out that her and many other girls were kept at an intentional disadvantage for hundreds of years and killed because of it just for the men to keep their ego. No wonder she kills all the men in power she can ... Queen shit honestly. Or empress shit? Mh.

Anyway! I watched the authors YouTube channel before the book came out and I know I'm late to the party on this book as it's been on my shelf for some time but I really enjoyed their writing and I can't wait for the sequel next year!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism, Emotional abuse, War, Alcoholism, Torture, Addiction, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

cort_kaye's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture