Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

81 reviews

musicdaph's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

Each book of the series, I love it more than the last, it gets better and better

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Slavery, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War

Minor: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Fire/Fire injury

anndreya's review against another edition

2.75

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood

Moderate: Confinement, Miscarriage, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, War

dulcie_sleep's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Trafficking, Sexual harassment

Minor: Misogyny, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation

frawst_disasta_reads's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Aelin comes across as spoiled and unable to take responsibility for anything, which is why I didn’t rate it 5.

But, other than Rowan, I loved every other character.  The plot kept me engaged and I definitely cried at certain points.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, War

Minor: Alcohol

jlg1's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation

pkreads2024's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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: Complicated

---

This was such a good book! At first it was boring beginning mainly because of how slow it started, but it definitely picked up 30% in. This book closes up the first half of the series, and leads into the next half of it. Overall, this book shows lots of charcter development for all of the characters in the series. Introduces new and brings back old characters. Also answering past questions and rising new questions.

And, oh my gosh and the slow burn romances! So painfully slow 😂

Also thank goodness Arobyn  Hamel is finally dead. As well as the king.

I also find it sad what has happened to Kaltain throughout the series. As well as Roland's ending. Along with everyone else's PTSD from previous  books, and lives.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol

dragonaion's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

---

This book is a heay read, and not just because of the content, but because we see the next stage, yet again, in Aelin's journey. As soon as I started this book, I was prepared for some of the plot, but the execution, the character growth, and beautiful weaving of love, emotional growth, change, and power towards the underlying plot of the story was delightfully surprising. Steel yourself, because in this book we see what everyone is fighting for. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting

Minor: Ableism, Slavery

This book has content that can be triggering and is not an easy read: one character explaining how they fell in love, were pregnant, gave birth to a stillborn, we're brutally punished and branded before being abandoned to die.

coffiend's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War, Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abandonment

bookworm2991's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-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

---

Queen of Shadows is a pivotal book in the Throne of Glass series, marking a turning point where Aelin fully steps into her role as a queen and strategist. It beautifully balances intense action with emotional moments, offering a satisfying mix of revenge, redemption, and relationship development.

Fans of strong female protagonists, intricate world-building, and morally gray characters will find this book incredibly rewarding. It also sets up the stakes for the final chapters of the series, making it a must-read for those invested in the journey.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence

Queen of Shadows is filled with high-stakes drama, character growth, and powerful relationships. The book delves into the aftermath of Aelin's past, the burden of her responsibilities, and the alliances she must forge to reclaim her throne.

One of the most pivotal moments in the book is Aelin's reunion with her long-lost allies, especially her relationships with Rowan and Lysandra, which deepen and evolve. The discovery of the deeper political manipulations and darker forces at play sets the stage for future conflicts, with many characters facing the painful consequences of their past actions.

The book also introduces Manon, whose arc shifts from a cold, calculating figure to a more conflicted and vulnerable character. Her journey of self-discovery and evolving sense of morality adds complexity to the series’ overall themes of power, loyalty, and choice.

annniee's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, War, Classism