Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

58 reviews

clappingtalent's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

That was disappointing :( I adored Strange the Dreamer but I almost couldn’t get through this one. I kind of wish it hadn’t been a duology at all. The first book was full of mystery and magic and wonder, but this book overanalyzed and beat a lot of points into the ground.

also sorry I groaned at the “the end…or is it?” it felt like a cliche I’m sorry I’m a hater

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lelainav's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-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? Yes

3.25

I love the fairytale vibes, the exploration of trauma, the redemption for deeply wounded characters (both literally wounded and emotionally wounded).

Where I struggled was the very direct characterization style. If a character had a trait or emotion, I would be told it repeatedly. I think this was worst with Minya, whose pain I understood from the get-go, but had to have explained to me 20 times. I would love to see more description of how emotions manifest in the body, the voice, in action than in thought. 

I understand some of this is a YA thing, but the result of this writing style is that the page is sooo dense that I can’t actually feel with characters. I am too busy reading how they feel instead. 

Also, holy heck but this is a dark book. Do not read if you are not ready to go into the systematic exploitation, grief, and suffering of an entire people. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

oxian_d's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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? No

4.25

I can't wait but help myself reading this second book right after the first part of the two book series. This book was fast paced, intriguing, emotional, roller coaster time traveling, and a mythical chaotic story. I like the flow of the story, love the characters, love the new nemesis such twists and heartaches all at the same time. Although there were some lapses, some incongruences and inconsistencies as to who's who or who's talking or maybe it's the version of the ebook. But most of it was to be expected, and I still got surprised, amused and frustrated. And for some reason I find and see myself in their world. I felt their pain, the loss and longing, and the never ending loop of dread and hope. It is strangely beautiful, strangely crazy, and strangely captivating and frustratingly sad. Strange, weird and irresistibly mental. I hope to see this on tv or live action movie. And wish there'd be another part as to where they'll be heading next. Such an adventure with psychology. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

seforaflorian's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mama_turtlez's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amberacks12's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I stand by what I’ve said before about Laini Taylor’s writing: it’s beautiful, lyrical, so imaginative, unique, and immersive. I really love Lazlo, the godspawn, and for some reason, Thyon Nero. The world she has crafted is magical and while I’m in the book I feel as if I’m in the world, not just reading about it. 
There are a few things keeping me from giving this a perfect five stars. They are nitpicky and not a big deal, but worth trying to explain I think. 
The first is that for some reason much of the storyline in this book felt superfluous. It felt almost as if the first and second books could possibly have been condensed into one. Maybe that’s because not a lot actually happened in Muse of Nightmares. 
The second is that I felt very stressed the whole time I was reading this. I think maybe because of the state of one of the characters made it feel as if there couldn’t possibly be a happy way to end it. 
Third is the side characters weren’t developed enough. We spent a lot more time with them in the first book, and I wish they’d gotten more screen time in this one. 
And finally I think despite how terrible some of the things a couple of the characters went through, it seemed they “got over” their issues rather quickly, and everything got resolved in ways that felt too easy. 
Despite these criticisms I did really love this book and I’m glad I’ve finally worked up the courage to read it. 

Enjoyment: 4.75
Emotional impact: 5
Educational value: n/a
=4.8

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lizardinabigwizardhat's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective tense medium-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

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

molly918's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cruspp_29's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings