Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Une braise sous la cendre by Sabaa Tahir

198 reviews

meganders22's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.75


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shananigans's review against another edition

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My biggest issues with this book is how Tahir uses rape and sexual assault as a device for how "dark" the world is. It was an inescapable reasoning at every turn. It felt unnecessary.

I tried to stick it out, but finally with Helen, I decided I couldn't. The story starts out fairly strong with a rotating POV and it's easy to get sucked into at least one of their stories. The pace of the plot for Laia is as slow as molasses, and there was little to no build up as a reader to bond with Laia's desperation to be like and/or save her family. It was a lot of creepy sexualization, which to me, felt a bit out of place for the lore of the world. I'd expected more violence from how wicked cool the Masks are described to be... But instead got creepy rapists and violators of women. On the other side, we're given this hella cool Mask woman, Helen, who is pretty solid up until halfway through the story. Then her strength is torn down by jealousy. Extremely unfortunate. Someone in her position, logically in this verse, would not be as petty as jealousy over a boy. The Commandant is the only one who felt she fit into this sadistic violent world; she's a badass antagonist. It's a real shame because I wanted to finish it, but it felt that at every turn of the story a poor literary device was used to change course.

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otterforce's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

This book is a bit more graphic than my usual reads. There are some serious streaks of violence and sadism. If you’re concerned, check out the first chapter and know that it’s kind of light compared to what’s to come.

The story and characters are both strong though and the very bad guys doing very bad (and sometimes graphic) things never feels gratuitous. It often reinforces the tension and stakes or serves the story. There’s are so many good people to offset the bad. I wouldn’t say the story is hopeful, but it’s also not overly bleak or dark.

I can’t wait to see how this series unfolds in later books.

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apple_atcha_reading's review against another edition

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

5.0


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jaqueline's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective sad tense 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


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seforana's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark 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

4.5


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danaslitlist's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0


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mariahlynnpeck's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

 I happened to pick up this book at b&n just cause I really liked the cover and it sounded good. When I read this book I was so invested and I went through so many emotions especially the last 30% of the book. Hearing both Laia and Elias pov was so interesting it felt like reading 2 stories in one. Reading one and seeing how they were feeling vs how the other perceived it. I can’t wait to dive into the second one to see how their story goes.

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imskylow's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.5

Pleasantly surprised by this novel. I feel like I haven’t read a good political fantasy YA in a long while. All the characters have depth and emotion and the conflict feels real, too real at times especially with the genocides happening in the world. Laia is a fabulous FMC. She’s determined without being arrogant and unfeeling. She’s not a pick-me, she’s an I’ll-try-my-best. Elias is an intriguing character as well. A++

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tabea1409's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark 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


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