Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Book of Night by Holly Black

16 reviews

anandaclairity's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Kidnapping

bcope84's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Grief, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Bullying, Child abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

silver_violet's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Murder, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Vomit

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

allianni's review

fast-paced

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

2.0

Over all the book had a relatively interesting premise and promising start. The “twists and turns” that happened during it were not exciting to discover and things that I didn’t connect did not feel rewarding. 

The characters are certainly built to not be likable. They are bad people who do bad things. I am unsure if the author wants the reader to like them despite the bad things. The characters are essentially bad people fighting worse people.

Another issue I took with this book is that Black very clearly does not know how to write a “curvy” (as she describes Charlie) lead female character. Charlie was described/described herself as having  “too much in [insert body part here]” and that it was crazy that a hot guy like her boyfriend would be interested in her. As a woman who falls into the category of Charlie’s size (which is eventually explicitly stated) I can attest to the fact that there are better ways to write characters like her.

I also felt like certain points were exhausted by the author repeating them over and over again. The ending was disappointing and it felt as if there were many things explained away. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Incest, Kidnapping, Suicide, Torture, and Vomit

Strange amount of child neglect that does not really get dealt with.

There is incest that is complicated? Again this is a spoiler! It is very heavily implied that Red has sex with Adeline. While Red and Remy are not the same person, Red is from Remy and takes the shape of Remy, so its very hard for me to say that the sexual relationship Red and Adeline have is not incestuous (or at least close enough to warrant a warning). It also adds literally nothing to plot for them to be related.

bezarue's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

I actually liked this a lot more than I thought I was going to. The world was well set up, and the mystery kept me gripped to see how it was all going to play out.

I worked out that Vince was Red long before it was revealed but I don't think that rly ruined it for me.

I didn't love any of the characters but they didn't irritate me either so. Yup, solid

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence

norwegianforestreader's review

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Body horror, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Blood, Child abuse, Vomit, Violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Child death

Minor: Addiction

lauramparis's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Death

Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

jaja_1212's review

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Gun violence, Vomit, and Abandonment

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