Reviews tagging 'War'

The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport

79 reviews

raspberryvanguard's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Ms. Davenport you have outdone yourself sister!!!! I’m not even a science fiction gworlll and I was hooked!!!  Wasn’t going into this expecting to regard nor rate it as high as I am. World building, excellent! Despite being fictional, the sudy of Black female anger/rage through Kenna was great, it was explored because she TOO, has VIABLE reasons to be angry, furious, and indignant; not the madwoman, base portrayals we’re given through stereotypes. Black women are entitled to emotions, especially anger. I put my library hold on the second book before I was even done this one. Well done!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: War

ereadkie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Cannibalism, and Racism

lqvekanej's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, War, Racial slurs, Murder, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Cursing

shainabriley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Sexual content, and Murder

snackykennedy's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Death of parent, War, Blood, Racial slurs, and Racism

cheuksin's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

2.25

To be honest this book is the complete opposite of what I usually read action fantasy with a romance subplot. It’s was interesting to step out of my comfort zone. Considering I bought this book months ago and waited until after the sequel came out to read it I’m a bit disappointed. Ikenna is both overpowered and unlikeable the author really should’ve just picked one.

The way she treated Zayne (she was constantly gaslighting him and getting mad him for no reason) and Enoch and his sister (become she officially became a Praetorian) was so bitchy.

The plot was also pretty predictable. I wish the best for this author though, I probably won’t read the sequel unless it’s on sale for less than £1.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, War, and Torture

Minor: Death of parent, Slavery, and Vomit

hollyk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

HOW DOES THIS NOT HAVE MORE READS???? Genuinely astounded. This is so good, it goes places other fantasy books with similar presences do not go. Some of the world-building is shaky and a bit cloudy/confusing, but with the more you read the easier it is to grasp. I would also say this is more new adult than young adult.

Ikenna is an absolute badass. She's also flawed, and I like that she's hotheaded, impulsive, and doesn't back down. Her resilience is commendable and I think she's incredibly complex. She shows a lot of growth, but I also think a lot of other characters show growth as well, which I think can often get lost in other books. Several characters have some big changes and I am glad to see that growth. 

The pacing is a little slow at first, but once the Trials start, they Start™. One of the twists is kind of obvious, but I think that the details of it are well executed and are shocking. I won't say more because spoilers. Speaking of, TW in spoilers:

racism, sexism, gore, violence, death, murder, body horror(?), cannibalism (?), mentions of slavery, death of a parent/parental figure, grief

I think that covers most of the major ones.

I loved this book and I will not stop thinking about it for the foreseeable future

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Bullying, Gore, Medical content, Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Classism, Confinement, Racial slurs, Torture, and War

Moderate: Sexual content and Xenophobia

Minor: Pregnancy

tinyjude's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

I love my female main protagonists filled with anger and a thirst for vengeance. I like them cocky, but capable, and empathetic. I like the deadly and reading fck everything, especially bigoted systems that are rotted to the core.

Even though some of the plots were predictable and there were inconsistencies with certain characters' behaviours (probably trying to rush a growth path), it was still an addicting read that tackles subtly interesting themes such as militarism propaganda, institutional racism, institutional sexism, duty vs rightness... with a compelling world-building (i especially loved the forest trial and getting to know these abominable creatures). I am eager to see where the story takes us next and if my theories about the next book are as correct the ones i made in this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, Death of parent, Violence, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Grief, War, Racism, Animal death, Gaslighting, and Torture

Moderate: Gore, Blood, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Colonisation and Slavery

headinthepages's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Racism, Animal death, Cursing, Child death, Death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Gun violence, Violence, Abandonment, Sexual content, War, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Xenophobia

abiofpellinor's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Blood, Sexism, War, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Death, Classism, Police brutality, Torture, and Self harm