Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

38 reviews

maddie_rae_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Book 2 in the An Ember in the Ashes series! I love the multiple POVs set in a world of reviving magic and militant brutality. This time we follow Bloodshrike Helene, Fugitive Elias, and Rebel Laia as they race to figure out what is truly going on, while desperately trying to protect the ones they love.

We pick up the storylines right where we ended in Book 1, and it’s a mad dash from there. So many choices to be made and tragedies to endure, questions answered and more questions needing answers. Each are put in seemingly impossible situations that have them evaluating what truly matters. Life and Death are always in the balance, and we see a lot of loss sprinkled with hope in this second installment of the series. I love that some twists were predictable (excellent clues all throughout) and that some were so startling as to keep me on my toes as a reader. Very excited to see what happens in book 3!

Honestly, a fabulous second book! I didn’t feel like it dragged and found myself at the edge of my seat and gasping all throughout. This series is quickly becoming a top favorite series along with Harry Potter and Throne of Glass.

THINGS CONSIDERED SCORE 98/100

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Death

mj1588's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, War, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

risten's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death, Racism, Violence, Child death, Gore, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Torture, Classism, War, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Vomit, Excrement, and Misogyny

c_l_ara's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Torture, Violence, Genocide, War, Racism, Slavery, Child death, Confinement, Child abuse, Death, Grief, and Physical abuse

crystal18's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Hate crime, and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape

joylehua_95's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

This series has been great so far. I really enjoy the themes of morality, friendship, and loyalty. I also love the rawness of the story in how the Empire is this oppressive entity. Some members of the empire, even though they benefit from the power, are still victims of the system. The societal themes in this book are great talking points, and there are many parallels to current day/ past conflicts with oppressor/oppressed groups. 

Elias is my favorite character. He is selfless and brave, but this can also be a hindrance to his growth. He feels he hurts the ones he loves, so he feels he needs to isolate. When really, it's his love and general humanity that is his strong point.  I love Laia, I feel she has grown into herself. She has become brave, sure of herself. She is no longer the girl that ran away. 

I am not fully entrenched in Helene's story yet; I have not fully connected with her in this book. However, I feel for her character, though, because, unlike Elias, she is deep in the grasp of the Empire. She sacrificed herself, her freedom for Elias and the greater good of the Empire.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Torture, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Genocide

sahramahtab's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad 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

5.0

"A Torch Against the Night" by Sabaa Tahir is a total heartbreaker. I accidentally spoiled myself with fanart, but that didn't make the emotional punches any less powerful. Helene's journey, which had me torn in the first book, now has me rooting for her with all my heart. Elias, my poor baby, deserves the freedom he yearns for after everything he's been through and I hope gets it in the end.

Now, Laia... I love her, but girl, why so naive at times? Letting a certain someone

(Keenan, I knew something was off about that scoundrel)

manipulate her had me shouting at the pages. It's 3 a.m., I should be sleeping, but nope, I'm diving into the third book right away. Tahir's storytelling is relentless, and I can't resist finding out what happens next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

anarmandameg's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-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? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Genocide, Medical content, Racism, Slavery, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, War, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Xenophobia

dawnilton's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

Wow this book was so good!! Its definitely a step up from the first part. The beginning part of the book was boring and the pacing felt a bit dragged on but the last third of the book definitely made up for everything. The plot twists blew me away. I truly didn't see them coming.

I knew that Keenan was going to betray but man I didn't him to be the nightbringer. LIKE WHAT. That whole chapter was just masterfully written. The puzzle pieces were clicking in my head just before they were spelled out on the page. Truly genius. ALSO Harpers reveal? I truly didn't see that coming. that one really took me by surprise.

The character writing was the highlight in this book. Every main and side character we got to know had such good character development and I really feel connected to them. I really enjoyed seeing Helena, Laia and Elias' journey and how their paths intertwined with each other. You could really see it all come together in the end in a satisfying and heartbreaking way. Just like book 1, I think Elias' POV was much more interesting than Laia's POV. I just felt there was so much more to explore with Elias, his mental struggle with death, dealing with his mom,

him being poisoned and him going to the realm between death and life

. Surprisingly enough, I really enjoyed Helena's character development even though I didn't like reading her POV for most of the book. 
I still have so many questions about the magic in this book.

What the deal with Laia's powers? What makes her so special? Also, WHO IS THE COOK? I truly have no clue and there is so much suspence around her!! Is she Laia's sister?

I NEED ANSWERS. You bet I'm picking up the next book after writing this review. It's too good. 
This is your sign - read the second book! It will meet all your expectations. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Trafficking, Body horror, Torture, Death, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Blood, Violence, Genocide, and Injury/Injury detail

This book is very graphic and deals with heavy topics. Just like the first book, it doesn't shy away from violence. Just be aware of this before going into the book.

theintrovertsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Blood, Death of parent, Confinement, Murder, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Abortion, Terminal illness, Torture, Grief, Cursing, Genocide, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Gore, Police brutality, and Slavery

Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual assault