Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

27 reviews

casthefanby's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Self harm, Torture, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

As in Black Sun, Roanhorse does a masterful job of bringing to life such a rich and complicated world in this second installment.

I always struggle a little bit with the second book in ANY fantasy series, simply because once the novelty of stepping into a new world and getting to know the characters fades, it becomes harder for me to keep track of (and therefore care about) all the complicated machinations of the plot.

But my investment in these characters kept me wanting to continue, even when all the politics and strategizing sometimes went over my head. I definitely appreciated that we got to spend more time with Iktan, because I found xir so interesting in the first book.

Where I tended to have the most trouble was understanding the characters’ wants and motivations, especially Iktan and Serapio. I wasn’t sure why they were doing what they were doing—what it was they were trying to achieve or what they were seeking (though this was eventually revealed pretty explicitly in Serapio’s case by the end)—and that took me out of the story a few times. 

Other than that though, this really was great. I didn’t realize when I started that this isn’t a completed series, and I wish I’d thought to check because now I don’t want to have to wait to find out what happens next!! 😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Murder, and Torture

Minor: Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Vomit

bookycnidaria's review

adventurous dark emotional funny sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, War, Blood, Physical abuse, Torture, Classism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Confinement

sealegs's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Blood, and Grief

jht5791's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Blood, War, Animal death, Torture, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Physical abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Murder, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury

nerodyne's review

adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

I really can not put into words how much I enjoyed this book. I loved Black Sun, and this book continued exploring what I found most interesting and compelling from the first book. I was glad to see other characters like Iktan, Okoa, and Balam get more time to expand their characters, and I enjoyed the growth that Serapio and Naranpa went through to lead to the ending. Not to mention the worldbuilding continues to be vibrant and excellently done. I could not recommend this series highly enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, War, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Misogyny

yourfavavery's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

So this is the sequel to Black Sun, which I really enjoyed. This book gets five stars because it didn't really end on a cliffhanger, although Roanhorse has promised another book in the series. That book is set to be published later in 2023 so we won't have to wait too long.

In the meantime, if you like the indigenous-based world building here, I have suggestions! Read Mexican Gothic for a gothic horror set in Mexico, or read Gods of Jade and Shadow for another fantasy novel. Or read The Only Good Indians for a great horror novel set in the US!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Xenophobia, Torture, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry

thoughtsontomes's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed this second installment. It's a little below the first book, since the first book has this big set up and something you are obviously moving towards, but I really enjoy how this book expanded on the political machinations and the gods. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Gore, Xenophobia, Blood, and Torture

sohva'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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Death, and Gore

Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, War, Confinement, Murder, Alcohol, Deportation, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Xenophobia

roxy_reads_romance's review

dark informative mysterious 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

4.75

Spoiler

A fantastic sequel. Lots of shifting alliances and political intrigue.

Okoa turned on Serapio.
Nara healed Serapio during their confrontation and left to find a mentor so he could unite Tova.
Xiala is back in Teek... I liked the friendship between Xiala, Iktan & Ziha.
I'm so sad Denaochi was murdered while protecting his sister. He was one of my faves.
I hope Serapio & Xiala reunite one day! 

Can't wait for next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Blood

Moderate: Torture