Reviews tagging 'Torture'

A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I. Lin

17 reviews

greymalkin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

 A very solid sequel to the first book and a good conclusion to the duology.  It's so rare to have a 2 book series be complete, just about everything's a trilogy these days.  But despite being two slim-ish volumes, there was plenty of action and worldbuilding.

The tea aspect was pushed a little bit further than the metaphysic really seemed to support (like when she put her magic in the soup- I mean sure, I can see the reasoning but it seemed a bit like a "I need this to happen so it does").  And the details seemed a bit more rushed and less complex than in the first book.  But I suppose the pacing was different since she was on the run, so that fits.  

I did enjoy the bridge of birds reference and it made me wish there were a few more of those stories brought into the books like that.

 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, and War

Minor: Torture

risten's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

schnaucl's review against another edition

adventurous sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I thought it was okay.  There was less focus on food this time around.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Torture, Violence, and Death of parent

karcitis's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Physical abuse and Torture

pvbobrien'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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Murder

marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition

adventurous challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

In Judy I. Lin’s follow-up to her gorgeous debut, A Magic Steeped in Poison, Ning is on the run with her newly-saved sister, alongside the princess and her beloved bodyguard.  Even as they run for their lives, Ning can’t help but think of the boy she left behind, the son of the general behind the coup, behind the still-lurking poison.  When at last they meet again, Ning must surrender to trust in order to survive the trials that many more seasoned than she have failed, all in order to save their people from a vengeful, power-hungry god who haunts her at every turn.  With atmospheric scenes of magical connection sprinkled throughout, this sequel satisfies like the perfect cup of tea.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

Moderate: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Gore, Torture, Vomit, and Alcohol

bookwormbullet's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, and Blood