Reviews tagging 'Gore'

And I Darken by Kiersten White

4 reviews

k_galloway's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.0

slowwwwwww pacing. it felt like pulling teeth trying to read this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Xenophobia

Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War

andrikkk's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Grief

lapis's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Torture

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Islamophobia

Minor: Slavery and Medical content

Islamophobia: it's during the crusades and one of the characters views religion as a tool, but also thinks poorly of Islam. One of the other characters

converts to Islam secretly

and for what it's worth I think the author treats the subject with respect.

queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

 And I Darken by Kiersten White wasn't what I was expecting. This was one if those books that I bought on Thriftbooks, because the cover looked pretty, and I thought it was going to be fantasy with royalty. Not a lick of magic or fantasy to be found. Instead it is a story set during the Ottoman empire as historical fiction. 

We follow Lada and her younger brother Radu. Lada is ferocious, mean, quick to violence, and ugly (She's no Disney princess). Radu on the other, hand is very pretty and is very sensitive and cries easily. They go through the horror of being sold as collateral to the Ottoman Sultan. 

Once there, they meet Memed, one of the sultan's sons, and they both promptly fall in love (one awkward love triangle). I did like how the friendships were written in this; Nichoae and Lada and Radu and Nazira. They were sweet and I wished we had focused on that more. 

I loved Lada's character even if she wasn't particularly likeable, but because of the sheer badassery of this woman. She learned to fight, lead the men and have some serious power and influence, which was unheard of for a woman. Radu is a soft boi and must be protected. 

Although was and interesting read, I don't think I care enough about this plot or these characters to continue with this series, when I have so many other books I'd rather read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Trafficking and Religious bigotry