Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

21 reviews

mmefish's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

5.0

It's hard to believe that Katherine Arden is not Russian (or just Slavic) because of how authentic this book feels — it is clear she's very knowledgeable on the subject. Well integrated myths and Russian terms brought back memories from my childhood, while masterfully crafted 14th century Rus' landscapes made me want to read more Slavic-inspired fantasy. 
And to think that it's a debut novel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, and Rape

ktkeps's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent

kappafrog's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Death, Blood, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Body horror, Domestic abuse, and Gore

Moderate: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, War, Forced institutionalization, Ableism, Child death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Sexual violence

Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Animal cruelty

emfass's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.0

 Comfort reread of one of my favorites series.

Kathleen Gati does a beautiful job as narrator, capturing the characters, the dialects, the world of medieval Rus. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Animal death, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cannibalism, Child death, Sexual assault, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Self harm

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, and Rape

saintyeehaw's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

I came into this book expecting a first person narrative focused on the female lead (similar to Uprooted) so it took me some time to get adjusted to the ever shifting perspectives. There were many times when I found myself waiting for the story to actually get going, which made chapters like Pyotr and his sons' visit to Moscow especially sluggish for me. Overall though, once the story got going I was all in. I loved Vasya's relationships with the different creatures, the characterization of Morozko, and the sheer evil/selfishness of the antagonists . I am definitely going to continue the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Violence, and Vomit

sarahaf712's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Self harm, and Misogyny

Moderate: Mental illness, Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Vomit

peachani's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Violence, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Self harm

fiveredhens's review against another edition

mysterious 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? No

4.25

folkloric winter horror horse girl book

the first third of the book was p slow but it kicked off in the second half. kinda petered out at the end but still really good

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, Physical abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Ableism, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Vomit, and Adult/minor relationship

liteartha's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

this book really takes its time and only amps up plot and action-wise in the last third, which i didn't love. that said, it definitely finishes strong and sets itself up well for the next instalment. i was a fan of the folklore and overall fable-like way this story was told, i really enjoyed the sibling bonds, and i think i quite liked vasya as a protagonist? i'm just not sure how well i got to know her, but i'll grant that she was rather young throughout this book.

on that note: why the fuck did morozko kiss her. why the fuck. why is that always a thing in these stories. like? keep these immortal dudes away from teenagers' lips and bodies? i mean?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Self harm, Rape, Pedophilia, and Child death

mitzireads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative mysterious slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I felt transported while reading this. The layer upon layer that was given to the story was phenomenal. 

I haven't read a book like this before and it honestly took my breath away. The details described give the characters such depth that even by the middle of the book you feel like you have know them your whole life. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Sexism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Rape, Misogyny, and Mental illness