Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

29 reviews

ktmcd26's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I loved this book! I don’t know why I was convinced that I would like this the least of the SJM universe (maybe the cover art?), but I really do think I like it the best. After I sit with this for maybe a few weeks I’ll start to see some of the flaws come through, but right now I am just not seeing it. 

This book was a combination of urban murder mystery, romance, and super powerful young woman fantasy. It was compelling, emotional and unpredictable. I can think of at least seven major reveals that I did not see coming. This book was a roller coaster and I could not put it down. I waited until very end of December to start this series so the 3rd book would be out when I was ready for it, but damn I will be done far far too soon. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and War

ladydeathnesta's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

I feel like I’m cheating on Silver Flames because I don’t know if I like this one better.

I love them equally.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

lealovesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Drug abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

daphnemarie's review against another edition

i don’t even know what the bloody title is let alone what the hell was going on

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia

Minor: Rape

kyahs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

5.0

Absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next one. Sarah J Maas keeps me up at night again! BUT the blurb would have ruined a lot of it for me if I read blurbs, don't read it!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

kylarenea_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty

ciarramist's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Misogyny, Slavery, Xenophobia, and War

jshroy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual harassment

gabi_w21's review against another edition

This was my second SJM book (the first being yet another self-insert fantasy, Throne of Glass) and I doubt I'll actually ever attempt another book by her. This book was bloated with unnecessary info dumps at inappropriate moments, characters constantly being objectified (a MOC being a slave? In 2022? Really?), mind-melting illogical logic, and a cast of infuriating characters that made me want to bash my head in. Oh, and way to tell on yourself, Sarah, by saying that the oppressed class are awful people for not wanting to be oppressed anymore. 

Bryce is your stereotypical party girl who whines about being half-Fae and being discriminated against (even though we never see it; it seemed to me the only real discrimination she faced was whatever self-hate bullshit she spewed) who refuses therapy and whines about her best friend being dead. She seems to be living the high life, as far as I can tell. I think she actually refused therapy so she can pull the “wah, my best friend is dead!” card. She also is supposedly super smart even though we don't see it. She's one of the most infuriating characters I've ever read. She claims she doesn't like “alphaholes” like her dad but that's the only type of guy she even remotely entertains. Oh, and she's a hypocrite—when her ex-boyfriend Reed (Reid?) is on his phone it's an issue but she can be on her phone. 

Hunt is an angel enslaved due to his part of a revolt. He's constantly sexualizing Bryce (every instance of them together, he makes a mental comment about her figure) and is SJM's generic brooding, tortured, racially ambigious love interest who treats the FMC like shit. He growls, glowers, threatens people, grins threateningly, and mopes around about his dead girlfriend's twin sister showing up. He's pushy, bossy, and obsessed with seeing Bryce as a sexual object. 

Everyone in this book sucks. Nobody is likeable except maybe the Sphyx cat thing and Lehaborah (I think?) There's gratuitous swearing, drug use, blood, and alcohol, like that's what makes adult fiction adult. God, if I could burn this book from my memory, I wouldn't even hesitate. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Suicide attempt

aimnorth's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I find the lore and the side characters far more interesting than the main character. I think the author missed a bit opportunity to name Bryce's addiction to help address why she's insufferable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, and Sexual content

Minor: Racism and Xenophobia