Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

242 reviews

claragweny's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

2.75

Badass, violent chosen one FMC who has unknown powers. Secretive, powerful, and ~handsome~ MMC who’s ALSO a chosen one - oh and he has wings. 😐 

Pretty much as formulaic as you can get with fantasy but not written well enough to be compelling. You could splice this story together with bits and pieces from the Sarah J Mass universe, From Blood and Ash, Twlight, and basically any other fae or vampire romantasy.

Everything I predicted about this book came true which isn’t something I want out of fantasy stories. I want to be surprised, challenged, or proven wrong. Obviously, that is not true for everyone given how much this book is raved about online. To each their own. When I want my trope-y, predictable, easygoing stories I will read a romance or contemporary fic novel instead. 

That being said, it’s not bad enough that I didn’t enjoy reading it. It’s not guilty pleasure level enjoyment, not good enough that I’d genuinely recommend it. If someone asked me “hey should I read this?” I’d shrug and respond “eh, if you’ve got nothing else on your TBR right now.” 🤷‍♀️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Rape, Self harm, and Torture

stephreads214's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? No

5.0

Hunger Games with adults and gods and vampires meets Underworld. I loved this book so much. There was never a dull moment. Something was always constantly happening. Didn’t know if I was going to throw up or cry half the time. But I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Bravo! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

cersmessenger's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Violence, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

supercourtneyyyy's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Violence, and War

justagrlandherdog's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, War, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Physical abuse, and Rape

lubelle867's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked learning all the world lore and I enjoyed the characters. I also LOVE a grumpy FMC.

If you like vampires and hungergames(ish) tournaments, you will most likely enjoy this book.

I was NOT expecting the plot twist at the end. As someone who can usually predict the ending, especially in romantasy books, it was nice to be shocked 😂

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Self harm and Fire/Fire injury

This is a book about vampires. It’s graphic and gory. Do not read it if you cannot handle those things.

cecez_libraryy's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery

stuffed_with_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I like the moon trials concept and creative world-building of the book. I enjoyed the slow burn of the romance, and the twist at the end was satisfying. It felt, however, like the FMC was too easily forgiving the MMC when he hadn't earned it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Torture, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Sexual violence

jennipea382's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Colonisation

ettan's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This was such an refreshing read! A badass female human character,

having little left of her humanity

and a smug, but charming male love interest,

the foil of the protagonist; having much left of his humanity

. 

I would recommend this one because it's like one entire anime tournament arc. I found some parts of the "challenges" somewhat rushly written. The book has morally gray characters

Her father Vincent

which I found interesting and betrayed my expectations. Like most authors

they leave an insane twist for the end, which makes me excited to read the second book.

Please note that a close female friend is introduced and die quickly to advance the plot in the beginning. I feel this was done better than in some other books though, as she was her connection to her human side, eg wanting to wear colorful impractical clothing. Sadly she is somewhat forgotten for the later part of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and War