Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Fireheart Tiger

Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

38 reviews

matcha_pages's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

This book starts off strong, dropping us right into the middle of high stakes political negotiations between the countries Bình Hải and Ephteria. There's political court drama, the beginning threats of colonialism, and a secret sapphic romance unfolding in the span of 100ish pages. It's a lot to cover and unfortunately this book needed more pages to do it justice.

The ending felt rushed and choppy compared to the first half of the book. The author builds this incredible world with tumultuous relationships only for it to sizzle out.

Personally, I felt icked out that Giang and Thanh's sisterly relationship turns romantic. I ship them - but maybe don't have them call each other big and little sis as a term of endearment?

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futurejake's review

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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wardenred's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

“I have to burn,” she says. “I have to feed. But it doesn’t have to be that bright. It doesn’t have to be . . .” She pauses, again, as if words were hard to get. “It doesn’t have to harm.”

There was a lot I enjoyed about this novella, but compared to Aliette de Bodard's other works of similar length that I've read it felt a bit clumsily constructed. In some parts, at least. I really liked how the political plotting unfolded, and everything about the mystery fires leading up to the reveals about Giang. But I wish Eldris was more flashed out, and I wish there was more background information about Thanh's past history with her, trickling in more gradually and steadily. I also feel the story would be stronger without the blackmail subplot—it added nothing of value and took up space that could have been used to expand on other parts of the story.

The love triangle aspect came a bit out of the blue for me. There was internal logic to it, sure, but I think I would have preferred

to see Thanh and Giang as friends, perhaps with a subtle hint at their relationship developing further in the future instead of a definite "this is where this is going, look, they're kissing already." Not because there's anything wrong with the two of them getting together, but because it feels like Thanh is only just getting the chance to fully get over Eldris. She could use some time to better process the events of the novella, and of her past as a hostage, before low-key rushing into figuring out "a connection, a start" that she feels with Giang.

All that said, I think I overall rather enjoyed the story. Thanh is a compelling protagonist who might seem like she wavers a lot now and then, but there's a quiet strength inside her that turns into a quiet stubbornness when it comes to things that matter to her a lot. Her relationship with her mother is rather complicated, but not devoid of hope and very interesting to follow. While the story has an almost claustrophobic feel, contained to just a few rooms and a garden, it is clear that there is an entire big, compelling, politically fraught world around the palace. I'd love to know more about what goes on in this setting, in fact!

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sidofherran's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

this had a promising start, but the development of the themes and premises fell short for me, probably bc of the short novella format. i really liked the vietnamese matriarchal queendom court politics setting, and the main character's tense relationship with her

emotionally abusive controlling mother.

the idea of an

all-women love triangle was also enticing, yet both relationships were not well-developed. i hope that eldris was not meant to be a genuine love interest, as she seemed to not truly love thanh and instead merely feel entitled to her, while thanh seemed to mostly like eldris as eldris was the first person who acted like she had worth and made her feel desired, especially in the context of thanh's mother treating thanh like thanh is worthless. i found myself shocked that thanh agreed to marry a girl she was merely fwbs with for 6 months 8 years ago - that did not look like healthy love to me, and eldris gave me sus vibes.
i was enjoying the beginning of thanh's romance with giang, how they refer to each other with the intimate names "big sis" "lil sis", but it turned out to not be developed enough and their attraction/feelings for each other was sudden. if this book novella longer, it might be an interesting relationship.

the resolution of the political plots also did not make enough sense to me and did not feel satisfatory, which again is another aspect of the novella that suffered due to how short it is.
all in all, i think this had potential and great premise - vietnamese fantasy setting, political/court intrigue, anti colonialism/imperialism theme, exploring the effects of

having an abusive, controlling mother, a lesbian love triangle, a fire elemental that takes the shape of a tiger

- but these were not developed and fell short of the initial premise's promise. if these themes were explored in a full length novel, it would have been more enjoyable.

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tinyjude's review

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I really liked the writing style, the concept and the world presented, however it felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped, mostly with regards to the romance. I feel like with maybe 50 pages more it would have worked for me better, as the characters and relationships felt too surface-level for me to care. Still, a very enjoyable read of filial obedience and defiance, toxic love, manipulation, political intrigues and emotional strength.

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leahrosiee's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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bex_knighthunterbooks's review

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emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

Contained some interesting ideas with a anti-colonial perspective of a small state trying to resist slowly becoming absorbed. Also interesting Sapphic relationship and a fun magical twist that helped the main character realise her value. The Vietnamese inspired setting had just enough detail to feel real and I would be interested in reading more from this world.

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robin_reads's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

2.0

I liked the idea behind this story but not so much the execution. It felt rushed, like someone put it on double the speed. Even in shorter stories you can take your time telling it, imo. Kinda wanted more from it.

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aconfundityofcrows's review

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adventurous dark hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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roguemcmayhem's review

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emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.25

I only finished this because it was so short. I loved the setting and felt like this would have been better as a novel. The protagonist made unbelievably poor choices, all of the characters were disappointingly flat, and the plot just kind of ended because the author needed it to end. The romance ending was a bit creepy too. I would not recommend this book.

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