Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

112 reviews

chime_detroit's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

4.75

Write more stuff like this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and Torture

vagrantheather's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

Had trouble getting into this one. Picked up in the second half.

It feels a little wrong to me that the MC never acknowledges her religious background, even when she is on the verge of execution. Seems like a thread left untied. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Police brutality, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Violence, Torture, and Sexism

Minor: Misogyny, Infertility, and Murder

natalieba's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

This was my first book by Leigh Bardugo, and I could certainly see picking up another by her. This is historical fantasy with ties to real historical events and figures along with fable, myth, and mysticism woven in. I found the two main characters interesting and complex and their love story believable and compelling. The side characters did seem a bit flat (or perhaps rushed/not as well-developed), but that didn't bother me all that much. I enjoyed this reading experience so much and found myself reaching for this book even when I only had a small sliver of time free - it was great! I don't read a lot of fantasy and felt this had just enough magic to fit into the genre but not so much that the world-building needs to be overly complex or drawn out (which is what oftentimes causes me to struggle with fantasy). Overall, I would recommend this book to those interested in this time period (the Spanish Inquisition) or who enjoy light fantasy with smart women at the center. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism

Minor: Confinement, Blood, Torture, and Sexual content

ksbielenberg's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Antisemitism

mad_is_rad's review

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

I’ve never read anything quite like this, and it stretched my brain in a way I very much liked! I just wish I could have felt more connection with the characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

taryn_g's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, and Torture

Moderate: Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Confinement, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, War, and Infertility

ewalkergrace'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Torture, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Vomit and Sexual assault

kuporeads's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Religious bigotry, Torture, and Misogyny

m_a_j's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Torture, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death of parent and Misogyny

novel_nibbles's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

As a long time fan of Bardugo I was delighted to get tickets to her recent UK event in London and pick up a  @waterstones special edition. 

I throughly enjoyed this magical standalone. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy historical romance and the addition of magic was just *chefs kiss*. I was rooting for Luzia from the start I enjoyed her transformation as she stopped hiding her true nature and personality. 

I enjoyed the romantic element but I would have prefer to experience more of the developing relationship on the page. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Slavery, Bullying, Misogyny, Abandonment, Confinement, Antisemitism, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, and Torture