Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Illuminati by Dan Brown

34 reviews

readingreader303's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Vomit

enbylievable's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.25

DNF. idk, I was pretty excited to read it and other people told me they really remembered liking this book but I got so turned off by the constant racist portrayal of the sexually deviant stereotypic Arab antagonist, and then the entire climax is just the threat of sexual assault against the female supporting character acting as a motivator for the male protagonist. The plan was to read The DaVinci Code after this but I think I'll just look up a synopsis on youtube, really not enticed to read Dan Brown again. I was really interested by the theorization of religion as a social institution and I loved all the info about the Roman architecture and the rituals of the Vatican but it wasn't enough to keep me going with this one

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Blood, and Islamophobia

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Addiction

The main antagonist of this book is an Islamophobic non-specificly-Arab caricature who is depicted as sexually depraved and as primarily motivated by the opportunity to sexually assault the female supporting character. This threat of sexual assault is then framed as a strong motivating force for the male protagonist.

mrs_faith_owens's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This book is perfect for all the conspiracy buffs and those Illuminati curious! While it is completely fictional, Angels and Demons is founded in reality enough to make you question. While it is a prequel to The Da Vinci Code, it is a standalone book and a great read. I truly was kept guessing until the very end!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Rape and Sexual content

antmacro's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

honestly so much better than the da vinci code, there were some pitfalls but those were more me being nit picky than actual flaws. also i like vittoria and robert SOOOOOO much more than sophie like oh my god so much more chemistry and i actually wanted them together by the end !!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture

emsbookshelf_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

THIS WAS SUCH AN EASY 5 STARS OH MY GOD

This book was everything I want when I want to read adventiure. It had morally grey characters. fast pacing, and a well driven plot that - at times - descended into pure chaos. 

The plot itself follows a Harvard Symbologist and Illumanti expert, Robert Langdon, as he attempts to stop the destruction of the Catholic Chruch at the Conclave. This novel explores the science versus religion debate very heavily and - as someone with an interest in this ares - I found this very enjoyable and interesting to read. Brown's writing was fast-paced, and at times, so-bad-it's-good. There were easter eggs peppered all over the plot, making for a reading experience that was easy to get sucked in to.

As far as characters go - overall, I did not think that the cast of characters were overly developed, or likeable. However, as the plot is the main forcys of this novel, that did not matter so much. Brown's use of mythical allusion for the more duplicitous characters (i.e., Janus) was a real stand out in this  novel.

Overall, I would reccomend this book to those interested in fast-paced mystery thrillers, who edon't mind that the intensity of a plot leads to underdevelopped characetrs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

crazytealady's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

A great comfort read! 

I just love Dan Brown’s writing style. He is so descriptive - you really dive into his world and it feels like you’re there. I’d also have the urge to write down every place in the book so I can visit/revisit them - like the Vatican Necropolis! 

I’m probably biased since I love stories about a) Italy b) the Vatican c) mysteries or who-dunnits d) symbolism - this was my cup of tea. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Blood and Kidnapping

Minor: Ableism, Racism, Sexism, Islamophobia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

sian_grace's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Really entertaining book, let down by some descriptions of women and racist undertones when describing a character. Felt like describing a caricature of a person instead of a fleshed out character. Luckily these descriptions are brief but disappointing because the rest of the book is very entertaining.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Murder

Moderate: Rape

electric_revenge's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative tense medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Religious bigotry

pearlnavratik's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

excellent book, but was slightly thrown off by the sensualization of the sole female character

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

shetland_pone's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

If you don't pay any attention, it's fun, but the moment you start to think about things it all falls apart. Langdon is a Mary Sue, most of the characters are seriously unlikeable, and the ending was a shitshow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment