Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier

7 reviews

rhi_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Incest, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Pregnancy, and War

hurricanyounot's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

THIS. THIS BOOK IS THE STANDARD FOR ME. This book does NOT suffer from "second book syndrome" in the slightest. It is easily the best in the entire series, without question. It takes the concept of a "morally grey" love interest and adds actual nuance to it. We get a strong female character who has the willpower of a thousand suns. Family politics are complicated, and Liadan does her best for those she loves. The stakes are even higher than the last book, and the action starts pretty much right away! My favorite book of all time. There is a reason why it is the only book I have ever rated 5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship

sylexlibris's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Incest, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Abandonment

ashatroyal's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.25

The story was good but not as compelling as the first book. Still amazing storytelling with history, fantasy and lore weaved throughout. The story has way romance in it and at a faster pace. It actually didn’t make sense, especially after the judgment of Naimh. As heartbreaking as the first book was, this one made me so sad and upset. The sorrow continues. I was sad to see that Sorcha’s sacrifice was almost all for not as all the brothers did not make it. She saved them just for them to die. But at least she was able to give them the chance to live their lives the way they wanted to. I also don’t see why Liam couldn’t have married Eilish. Sorcha didn’t even get to live a full life after everything she did. She deserved so much better. Naimh was so mean in the beginning but I felt bad in the end. Bran was so flip floppy but once we find out his past we understand a bit better. Great supporting characters. For Liadin to have been so well mannered and obedient to become so rebellious was very interesting. I loved that she questioned the Fair Folk though, she wouldn’t just follow them blindly. She was determined to create her own path. I do wonder why Liadan’s story was so important except but to answer our questions pending from Daughter of the Forest. Maybe show the consequences of her actions in the next book. I still have so many questions. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War

jaelsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual content, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, Torture, and Vomit

portuguese_bookaholic's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism and Miscarriage

sheryl_macca's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

This second installment of the Sevenwaters Trilogy surprised me in a number of ways. I was so invested in Sorcha in the first book that I was initially disappointed that she was no longer our protagonist. Sorcha was strong, courageous and moral but so it seemed her daughter Liadan would be too. Once I understood that I could connect to Liadan in the same way, I was absorbed by 10th century Ireland again.

Daughter of the Forest focused on a curse upon the siblings of Sevenwaters and the story took place in just 2 locations. Son of the Shadows focuses on the intertwined destinies of Sorcha's 3 children and the lengths they must go to for each other to fulfill their futures. We also find ourselves in many different locations and Harrowfield is virtually left behind. I hadn't expected such a shift in formula but it made the book more dynamic. 

Son of the Shadows is full of suspense and emotion still but this time it was less romantic, less predictable and it had much more jeporady. Of course, we are still treated to a selfless and true love story but this time the course of love runs much less smoothly.

I ended Son of the Shadows still surprised but definitely no longer disappointed. In fact, I think I preferred this second installment in the end. I hope to find that in book 3 I am transported to yet more new places by the latest generation of Sevenwaters children. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Incest, Misogyny, Torture, Blood, and Grief