Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

8 reviews

seanml's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

The Well of Ascension is the second book in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn fantasy trilogy. What I find with this series is that it's just a slight bit style over substance. The characters are varied, I have a clear picture of them and more or less enjoy their presence. The world is interesting and unique; the lore is well thought out; and of course the magic system is fleshed out and intricately explained. However I find that as whole the story lacks a certain warmth. This isn't always a necessity in fantasy and sci-fi - sometimes the author just wants to write out their cool ideas, and there are many in Mistborn. But big plot points often don't carry a weight to them. Sometimes the plot itself is going through motions - and it is VERY apparent in one big subplot. One that I found to be SO contrived and led to situations where things could have worked out if the characters just talked to each other. So, still very novel for its time, but maybe not as enjoyable as the first. 7.5/10.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Slavery, Stalking, and War

Minor: Child death

amelia22's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

No podía dejar de leerlo. Estoy enganchada.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Self harm, Violence, Death, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Classism, Grief, Pedophilia, War, Trafficking, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

iono's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, War, Blood, Gaslighting, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Cannibalism, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Gore, Pedophilia, Slavery, and Grief

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Suicide

lilifane's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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 LOVED IT SO SO MUCH IT'S EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK! 

I want to scream because I have so many thoughts and feelings and I can't explain them because of spoilers.

I'm just impressed. This is probably the most perfect second book I've ever read? It is the logical continuation of book one. And yes, it prepares the characters for and leads the plot to the third book. But it has a very interesting and well crafted plot on its own, with a satisfying finale. 

After finishing The Final Empire, you just don't know what to expect. But the themes explored in this book make you realize how much there still is to consider. Yeah, defeating a villain is hard, but maybe taking over and making life better is even harder? Love the detailed look at the aftermath of a revolution, the changes the characters went through but still have to go through more, the obstacles no one had considered. The character development is phenomenal. Is it fun/easy to read about the struggles and mistakes of the characters? No. But it's so believable and realistic. Wow. 

It is also maybe one of my favorite takes on the chosen one trope. And I love love loooove how much books, reading and research are part of the plot. It's my third book by Sanderson and all three have this in common. Characters that love reading and are passionate about doing research. And you as a reader can do it alongside them and even get rewarded for it. It's one of my favorite things in the world. 

I'm SO excited for book 3 now. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Self harm, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, War, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Addiction

oldladysadie's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, War, Body horror, Classism, Colonisation, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, and Toxic relationship

sashafriese's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, War, Classism, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Sexual violence, Blood, and Death

fanboyriot's review against another edition

adventurous slow-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? Yes

4.0

I can't get over the details in these books.  The characters are all well written, the character development is so good to read as well.  While this book was a lot slower-paced I still found it interesting, learning about the world building and how the magic system works made up for it.  Having said that I didn't like it as much as the first book, though like the first book, nearing the end it got really intense; so much happened at the end I don't really know how to process it.  Overall I really like this series far.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Animal cruelty, Violence, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Transphobia, Grief, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Gaslighting, Addiction, and Sexism

categalafassi's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, and Mental illness

Moderate: Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Addiction, and Gaslighting

Minor: Animal death and Stalking