Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

9 reviews

pagesbycaroline's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

Second read of this book. It's been long enough since I read it the first time that most everything was a surprise, which was delightful. There are many twists that I did not remember, so it was almost like reading it for the first time. I very much enjoy the dark nature of this story and cannot wait to continue reading the series. I remember in the beginning, Katharine was my favorite, but now I am leaning more towards Arsinoe.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood, Torture, Sexual content, and Physical abuse

carissa0906's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Physical abuse, Torture, and Vomit

thaliareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I had a bit of trouble with this book, and I think I might have had trouble finishing it if I hadn't been listening to it. I like the concept, but had some trouble with the pacing and inconsistent order and switching of POVs. I don't think it necesarily detracted from the book on its own, but I think that personally it led to some difficulties. 

I liked the concept and the characters. The plot progression was good, if a bit slow at times, but I kept loosing track of how close or far they were from different milestones they'd need to reach. 

However, I think the last handful of chapters really brought this up a notch for me. I was sincerely excited to read the next book to see what happens, despite not really enjoying this book as much as some of my recent reads. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

This book doesn't spare any details. This won't be for you if you don't like wounds to be graphically described. Additionally, the self harm/torture and physical abuse all relates to the intentional and repeat poisoning of one character to develop their resistance. This is however out of a desire to live, not a desire to die.

anastasiamakes's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

I was expecting this book to be very Hunger Games / Battle Royale-y but it actually focused a lot more on the characters, their relationships, and the politics of their world. A dark romp with strong female characters throughout and some good twists. Enjoyed it more than I expected! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Vomit, and Blood

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Torture, and Violence

hannahwhiteyy's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This was a good first book to the series, but didn’t stand well on its own. The pacing and flow was spotty at times, yet faster in others. Yet overall, the plot was intriguing and I empathised with a lot of the characters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Cannibalism, and Torture

bookishgoob's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

this book was a beautiful fantasy that wasn’t incredibly confusing in the world building. the perspectives of each place and how they train up their queens was so interesting to see. i’m so glad i started this series

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

barry_benson's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Torture

Minor: Vomit

teddieplaysbass's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

swiftie13's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

It took me a while to acclimate to the simplistic and slightly bland writing style, but once I did, I found the characters and plot to be rather captivating. This world is dark and brutal, and the plot is full of twists and turns that you'll never see coming. I can't rate it very high because the first half was just way too slow-paced for my taste, but eventually, I found myself enjoying it a lot. Will read the sequel.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror and Torture

Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty