Reviews tagging 'Death'

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

53 reviews

lizzie24601's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful 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

3.5

A well-done second half of the duology, though not as good as Strange the Dreamer imo. That's mostly bc Lazlo had such an interesting arch and growth in the first book, and in this book he's mostly just spending his time being Sarai's bf and Sarai doesn't really more of an arch than she does in the first book. SOOO much of the Lazlo/Sarai romance scenes could've been cut.

Nevertheless, there is some great character growth here, too - mostly for Minya and Thyon. The new characters were interesting and helped broaden the world. There's a little less adventure and mystery in this book, but Laini Taylor's writing is so good that you're still devouring each page, and it is quite a satisfying ending. (Obsessed with

Thyon's growth (I was so excited for him to reunite with Lazlo afterward) and with Sarai deciding to become a therapist at the end. Love that for her.

)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder

lilifane's review against another edition

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

5.0

If I had to describe this book with two words, I would say: Emotional Damage!
I haven't cried this much while reading for a long time. I think I didn't last a single chapter without tears. 

Although I think the plot is the weakest point and the pacing is not as well done as in the first book, I still loved it a lot. Personally, I hoped we would focus on the characters and problems still present from book one and maybe a little discovering and adventuring. But it was a lot of talking instead, and then new characters were introduced who brought new problems or rather another layer of the same problems. 

Still, I loved the characters with all my heart and even if we didn't see some of them as much, I was glad about every second we got. I was also impressed by how trauma and healing were discussed in the book. These were the main themes in this duology, and they were explored in a very nuanced way. 

But beware of triggers. So many hard and dark and triggering topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape and Sexual content

anneroza's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

dlrosebyh's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.5

Lazlo and Sarai are not the same people they were before the disaster. They both struggle to understand their new identities as ghosts and gods, respectively, as dark-minded Minya holds them captive in order to get revenge on Weep.

While Sarai is more powerless than ever, Lazlo must make the impossible decision of whether to save the woman he loves or everyone else. The muse of nightmares, Sarai, has yet to fully realize her potential since sometimes, only the most desperate need can teach us our own depths.

I suppose I liked everything about this sequel, with the exception of the fact that the primary plot didn't really get going until the 30% point. It wasn't as intense as the previous book in the series, but it was still quite enjoyable. I adored the character depth, and the cliffhanger really caught my attention. I truly believed that this was the final installment in the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Grief

Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Trafficking

doodeedoda's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent

forgettingtofly's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I’m mourning that this duology had to end, but so grateful I got to read it.  I can’t quite express it yet, but this book was deeply moving and so good.  Well-written, achingly sad, wonderfully hopeful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

froukjemelenhorst's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

 4.8

The only thing that I didn’t like was how Lazlo was just kinda pushed to the side, having ‘fulfilled his purpose’, and kinda turned into someone whose only personality trait is simping for Sarai. 

Other than that this was phenomenal. The times I gasped and was shocked are way too many to count and I thoroughly enjoyed this :) 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

 As with Stranger the Dreamer, I was enamored with Laini Taylor's writing, which blossoms like orchids on the page. The story is good - there are a lot of exciting elements and complex characters - but Laini Taylor's writing steals the show. She may be a bit flowery for most, but she steals my heart and weaves gossamer threads through it, and I am in love.

There were a few things that were too easy, especially redemption arcs and resource acquisition, but I'm willing to forgive all of it. However, I lament that Muse of Nightmares felt like a middle book, and I'm crestfallen at the lack of continuing adventures.

Altogether well-worth reading and a breath of beauty and joy in this otherwise dismal universe. An easy five-star because Laini Taylor has a gift for weaving magic in her worlds and creating characters of all shapes and sorts that the reader can't help but love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Torture, Trafficking, and Death of parent

Minor: Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and War

sukidookie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.75

I loved this series for its beautiful and fleshed-out story world. Minya easily became my favourite character, but I loved all of them. The way grief and trauma was creatively portrayed through the dream world was fascinating to me. There was so much dimension to this story that it almost felt real, it makes me want to believe in all the fairy tales I know. I only wish that the book had a more satisfying ending, and it didn't say something cheesy. If it HAD to say something cheesy, I think it would have been cool if the epilogue ended with a fairy-tale cliché. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Sexual content

chantellimus's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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: Child death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Racism, Self harm, Sexism, and Lesbophobia