Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Book of Night by Holly Black

13 reviews

e_joy10's review

There was too much swearing for me and just the casual talk about drunkenness and alcohol, which was a real shame because I loved the plot!! Would not recommend for younger readers. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Sexual content

There was some sexual content that was I guess a bit too descriptive and just mentioned so casually.

amylynn44's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Violence, Classism, Body horror, Murder, Gore, Death, and Cursing

Minor: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, and Confinement

jg34's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

4.75

Thrillers or mystery books stress me out but I still really liked this! I think it would be 5 stars if it wasn’t for all the anxiety this book gave me 😩 love Vince and f everyone else. Also was anyone else getting incest vibes with Adeline I mean she was about to get naked with her NEPHEW what the hell

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing

bergha1998's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.25

It’s a really interesting story, especially lore wise. The plot twist is exceptional. I just found the writing a bit clunky, it didn’t flow nicely for me. I also do have a hard time with moral bankrupt main characters, so if you also hate that I wouldn’t suggest. 

Low Fantasy, Romance Subplot, 1/2 🔥

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Alcohol, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Violence, Body horror, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Sexual content

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Body horror, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Misogyny, Murder, Addiction, Body shaming, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Vomit, Alcoholism, Gore, Slavery, Blood, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Medical content, and Toxic friendship

thebelugaloo's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

Loved the magic system, plot was good, but the ending was spoiled a little when attempting to make room for a sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Drug abuse, Gore, Incest, Car accident, and Sexual content

Minor: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Domestic abuse

leahfoko's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was so good. It took me a little bit to get into the story and understand the world because there was a lot to it, but once I was hooked I was hooked. I felt like I was able to predict some of the twists but at that the same time I had no idea what was coming. The plot beats and surprises were the kind that looking back maybe should’ve been obvious but they felt like HUGE surprises at the time and were so unique from the kind of plot points you’d expect in a fantasy. Which is the best kind, the kind where all the pieces were set up for you along the way and you put the puzzle together as Charlie did. 

Speaking of Charlie, at times I got kind of annoyed at her character for being bullheaded but that was also who she was and I couldn’t fault her for that at the end of the day because she needed to be that way to develop as a character and get to where she was at the end of the book. 

I really felt while reading this book that I had never read anything like it before and that is saying something. Holly Black once again coming in with the unique and wonderful world building. I also really liked that the story wrapped up pretty succinctly at the end while also leaving me intrigued for the second book. For a bit there I wasn’t sure what was going to be left to keep me hooked into wanting to read book two, but then she did it! Last minute hook to keep me coming back for more, while also feeling like the book could stand pretty well on its own if it needed to. I really appreciated that. 

Overall I really liked this book, I’m going with 4.5 stars because it took a bit to get going and at times I felt a bit confused and lost trying to keep track of all the pieces of information about the world that were coming my way that it felt a bit like an overload of information at times. But that comes with the elaborate world building at times. I would definitely recommend this book though to fans of Holly Black!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Classism, Child abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Sexual content

lisa_m's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I don't really know what I expected going into this but it's a good book. I liked Charlie Hall and there was a lot of action! I don't know what exactly but something was missing for me though.

I like the mystery aspect of it and also the reveal at the end! The whole revenge aspect of it was quite satisfying to read about as well.

I guess I was only scared that she would fail and because of that I was constantly on edge while reading.

This book wasn't the most fun time but it was definitely entertaining. And I think especially people who like their books a bit more brutal will like this.

I do have to say that I am quite confused by the worldbuilding still. I don't quite understand what exactly it is that shadows do and what they are? Also the magical powers seemed quite random. You can just do what you want? Also what are Cabal and Carapace and all those important people? Why do you need a Hierophant? Why did no one check if the Shadow took over?
Well anyways I have loads of questions and I really hope they will get resolved in book 2. (Oh and I hope it's a Duology because I feel like the story should have been a standalone and I hope it won't just be stretched out..

I think mainly what I didn't like where the flashbacks. Not because they were bad but because I didn't like the things that happened. It was great because that way we got to get to know the characters but still.
I really dislike Charlie's mum and I have to say I don't particularly like her sister either.. I did really like Vincent though but oh well hahah

Also wtf is wrong with Adeline!? I really dislike her and I feel like she is a lot like her father.. I don't understand why Vincent kept her picture? I don't get the whole thing with her and Remy.. honestly just very weird vibes.. I'm pretty sure she is going to be the villian of book 2.

The ending was great though. I saw a few things coming but definitely not all of them! If I could I would start reading the second book immediately! So I'm absolutely going to pick it up when it comes out :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Self harm, and Violence

karapillar's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Kidnapping, Classism, Vomit, Murder, Cursing, and Death

Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Stalking, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Sexual content, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

sauvageloup's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

SO GOOD! Wish i hadn't tried to rush quite so much because of the event and savored it a bit more but still loved it

pros:
- the magic!!! i haven't read a book (that i remember) with shadow magic in it and i loved the whole thing. the alterationists, quickened shadows, the way the magic became known to the general public through the internet, etc. all of it :D
- Charlie. She's such a mess but she never really means badly by it and I loved how there's the reveal at the end how's she's been holding herself back because she's been afraid of what happens when she really tries. Her nickname of the Charlatan, her past with Rand, her really grey morality but still being loyal and good at heart, as well as her proud sexuality and her relationship with Vince - she doesn't realise how much she likes him and they've kept so many secrets, and yet they're both totally dedicated to the other and i loved that :)
- all the other characters!! Vince was amazing

and I didn't guess at all that he was Edmund's shadow, which i should've really, but i'm so glad Charlie wasn't that fussed about it

and i loved Posey, with her determination to be a gloamist. she was a mess too and making some questionable decisions, but she comes through for Charlie and i liked that she got some healing at the end too.

- the ending was bittersweet but in kind of a perfect way. I liked the possibility of Vince/Red getting his memory back and that Charlie wasn't gonna quit on him.

- Salt was such a good villain too, and Charlie's horror story past of meeting him first was so well done and creepy, because she was so young and relatively defenseless then, but still managed to keep her wits. she's such a survivor :)
- i definitely felt the similarity between BoN and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. There's no dark academia, but the main characters are both 'not on their first mistake, but maybe their last' (as Black put it), a bit older, survivors and smart but jaded and making bad mistakes. there were strong resonances in the magic too, even though it's entirely different, there's the same wild danger of it and not quite knowing how it actually works or how the magic arises/the shadow is quickened. And there was a similar complex, mystery-based plot where both had too many names and was a bit confusing. but i loved both books all the same, and that type of tired-but-fierce female MC who is holding onto life with her teeth is the best :))

cons:
- there's a lot of names. i definitely got lost. Malik and Mahir i muddled up, i forgot who Paul Ecco and Adam and a bunch of the others, as well as small clues like the magnet Charlie found. i did rush through a bit, but it was still pretty complicated
- i did also find that Charlie's chaos kind of spilled into the plot? so i got lost a bit about how much time this was all taking, and the clues/plots/twists and turns felt very haphazard, according to just when the thought showed up in Charlie's mind. it definitely felt organic, but maybe a bit too much so

- also i'm not quite sure what was hinted at with Vince and Adelaine? did she have a relationship with Red? or Vince? or did she hurt Red when Vince wasn't there? idk

But overall, adored it and can't wait for book 2 :D

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Self harm, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Body horror, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, and Cursing

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Drug abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Incest, and Forced institutionalization

the self harm is only explicitly for finger pricks for blood, but there's a lot of bad, self-sabotaging decisions