Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Empress by Karen Miller

4 reviews

linnaea's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Slavery, Violence, and Rape

words_and_dreams's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I had really mixed feelings on this one. You are essentially reading the backstory of the villain for the next two books in the trilogy. It was very dark and very bleak from the get go to the end. 
Its set in a very religiously oppressive society and we follow the rise of slave girl Hekat. She is  strong and ruthless, not stopping until she achieves her goals. She only cares about herself and her one son, and believes she is their gods tool and chosen one. She was an anti Daenerys (dont even go there about the tv s8) she starts as a slave and rises up but couldn't care less about helping others like her. 
My biggest criticism was everything had 'god in front of it, ie godsroom godspool godsbraid etc etc i could go on. It got supertedious. I felt it also needed some lighter moment or moments of hope because it was tough going. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Slavery, Child death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Sexual assault

ashybear02's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, War, Classism, Pedophilia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Murder, Animal death, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Violence, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

stacielouise's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

This is my second read through of Empress, although the first read through was so long ago I couldn’t remember most of the details. Hekat has always stuck with me, though. She is a VERY memorable character. It almost seems wrong to enjoy her character and the book because it’s so terrible (in a very bad things happen way, not a this is a bad quality book way). This book is full of blood and gore and slaughter. Hekat is vicious, relentless and merciless. Miller doesn’t something quite remarkable, though. Instead of just presenting a villainous and eluding to her tortured roots to garner some empathy, she goes all in and has us take the journey of Hekat’s life, up to the point where the books ends.

And the book ends on a truly tragic note. The only one happy and thriving is Dmitrek, but I feel fairly confident the loss of his brother will affect him, as well.

I understand Hekat on a level rarely reached in a book.

But let’s not have Hekat steal the show. Vorka is also an amazing character. He is kind and tender, but still strong and powerful. He seems to be the hero to Hekat’s villainy, but really they are on the same side, have the same beliefs and hold fast to those beliefs. I haven’t read the second and third books, so I don’t know what happens or what may be revealed about their god, but it’s clear something is not right. I have so many theories, and I’m eager to see find out what is going on. Ahhh and Vorka and Hekat’s love? So wonderful and tragic.

I am so ready to FINALLY continue the series and find out what happens in the next two books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Religious bigotry, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Child abuse