Reviews tagging 'Grief'

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

12 reviews

booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

5.0

This captivating realm of mystique and dark fantasy is a wild ride. Gillig pulls of a ground breaking magic system unlike any I have seen in other fantasy novels. The intricate card based magical system is nothing short of phenomenal and leaves me wanting to have an actual collection of my own of providence cards. This was utterly gripping until the very end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, and Violence

Moderate: Grief and Sexual content

druzyquartz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Hate crime, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual content

yilliun's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

I ate this up. I’ve been in a reading slump for the past few weeks and this officially rescued me

not unlike Ravyn trying to save Elspeth

. 

Although the magic system is not completely an original idea, I like how the author developed it. I would have appreciated a glossary at the back of relevant terms and characters because I found myself often forgetting which card bestowed what power. 

I appreciated that the romance was more a side plot than the main focus. The story would be able to stand on its own without the romantic elements. Out of all the characters, Hauth and Nerium both felt a little cliche to me and the most cartoonish villain figures. Besides that, I think all the other characters were well fleshed out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Violence

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Blood

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

briannagriffin567's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Genocide, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Child death

bee12345'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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Mental illness, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Gore

karapillar's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Medical content, Body horror, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Abandonment, Murder, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

edilyaaang's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Easily 5 stars.

It was a little confusing at the first few chapters because of the world building. But when you get past that, it will take your breath away.

This had me at the edge of my seat, holding my breath the entire time. How the story unfold was perfection. I didn't even expect to cry but I did at the last part. 

This was a very great read to start the new year and I can't wait to read the second book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Animal death

kirstenf's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Grief, Child death, Murder, Violence, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Death

Minor: Emotional abuse and Alcohol

katievallin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Abandonment, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Terminal illness, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Vomit

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Sexism

sambo_0103's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Sexual content