Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

21 reviews

isegal1's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, and War

josiah17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.0

While being certainly confusing, as it's intended to be by Erikson's writing style, I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was really nervous going in because I desperately want to enjoy this series, and I'm glad to say that I couldn't be more excited going forward.

Erikson's prose is absolutely magnificent. It might be the best I've read so far. He writes incredibly dialogue, makes mundane scenes interesting with the way his language flows, and creates an incredibly atmosphere through the descriptors and words he's used and created for this world.

The action sequences are cinematic. I don't typically like a soft magic system, but I absolutely loved whatever the magic is in this series. It creates some jaw dropping moments. 

Characters and worldbuilding were also great. I would die for Kruppe. It was an absolute joy to read every scene he was in. 

I'm very pleased with the beginning to this series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Violence

Minor: Sexual content

farleighelse's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.25

would read again. Magic. Magic realms. Magical creatures. War and genocide. young and eld gods. possession. Picks up towards the middle end of the book. Looking forwards to seeing more of Paran and Sorry. Assassination and sabatoge. older audian

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, and War

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Slavery, and Grief

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jerkysnax's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and War

annapox's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Medical content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Minor: Cursing, Genocide, Rape, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

nerdkitten's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

Minor: Genocide, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

begemot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

tjm1618's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War

msrichardsreads89's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

 This was such a unique reading experience. I was very intimidated going in, but I am very glad I read this! The writing is masterful, and the world building is fantastic and was my favorite part. It is a dense and slow read, but worth the work that you put into it. 

My full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsefhH1EbUg

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

literaturesciencealliance's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Video Review (Spoiler Free): https://youtu.be/1yX4POOgddE

Spoiler Reaction Vlog: https://youtu.be/oPss20_r75A

This was a very unique experience and I am really glad I read it. Not a perfect book or a new all time favorite but I am really glad I finally picked it up!

How to begin a review of this book....I will start by saying that I am really satisfied with how it ended. I was not expecting this to be a complete story and was so happy to see how all the threads in this chess board of a book came together at the end. The world building is really the part I loved most about this experience. Its so full of magic, and lore, and Gods, and global/cosmic political intrigue that was so fun to fit together. BUT I don't think that puzzle is for everyone and it makes this a very dense and slow read. The characters that we get to spend time with I found pretty interesting, I would have liked more time on page exploring character relationship dynamics but even with so many players I felt really interested in all the threads. The biggest critique I have is how dense this work is. I spent 20 days reading this work when normally I take at most 7 days to read a work this long. That didn't make it a bad experience but it is not the experience I am use to having while reading fantasy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Genocide, Torture, and Blood

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Grief