Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

114 reviews

a_libraryghost's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

5.0

Was obsessed with this from start to finish and read it in two sittings. Such an interesting concept, I loved the characters, I loved the different worlds though I think more could have been done to make white and grey London a bit more distinct as I sometimes got a bit confused between those. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

gwenergy's review against another edition

adventurous

• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Some of the plot points seemed predictable, but the worldbuilding was enjoyable. I personally didn't enjoy the narration of the audiobook, and think I may have enjoyed the book a little more if I had just read it. I may be interested in pursuing the rest of the series, but likely in print rather than audiobook. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Self harm

Not exactly self-harm, but

blood magic, with lots of cutting into arms, wrists, hands, etc

mobymaize's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

A lovely romp through multiple Londons, similar to, but not the same as, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Super exciting and felt like a very well done HBO mini series in the best way possible :)
Planning on reading the sequels at some point!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Toxic friendship, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Police brutality, Rape, Classism, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, Gun violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

Main character uses magic by through self harm. Just a heads up.

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death, Blood, Self harm, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Stalking, Medical content, Misogyny, Grief, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cannibalism, Alcohol, Excrement, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Genocide, and Sexual content

laurenbaggy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Torture, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Self harm, Addiction, and Sexual assault

Minor: Slavery, Gore, Confinement, and Addiction

typedtruths's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

4.25

After languishing on my shelves for nine years, I finally gave this a shot... and thoroughly enjoyed it! Schwab is a hit-or-miss episode for me; yet this one grabbed me from the onset. I'm a little nervous to dive into the sequel when it ended satisfactorily, though.

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Torture and Death

➸ Trigger warnings for attempted rape (on-page), self-injury, alcohol consumption, graphic blood and injury depiction, death and magical resurrection of a friend & brother, murder and attempted murder, torture, gun & sword violence, and loss of autonomy (magical coercion).

nat20charisma's review against another edition

5.0

The setting was exciting with parallel Londons. I loved the main characters Kell and Lila (who I found out shares my birthday). I’d love to know more about the magic system! 

This book had a satisfying conclusion, but I know it’s a trilogy. I’m curious where the second book is going to take off…

Would not recommend for anyone with a history of self harm. The magic system requires users to cut themselves and use their blood. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Self harm

Moderate: War

Minor: Rape

Attempted Rape at the beginning of the book, and a mention of an attempted rape that ended in murder. Neither is descriptive and each is short. Magic is blood magic; lots of mentions and descriptions of blood and cutting.

tuhmolly's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm

brittknee52's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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: Self harm, Death, and Blood

kwichris's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.75

I've not read the first book from an author in a while that immediately had me hungry for more in some time. Schwab created a very interesting magic system that unfurls more as you and one of the characters (Lila) continue to explore the worlds with Kell. The way in which multiple realities (or worlds as they're referred to here) is tackled is quite unique in that there's a set limit but infinite possibilities in each depending on each world's relationship with magic. Schwab provides plenty of colorful imagery for the reader with plenty of room for imagining your own view of the world's she created. Seeing the worlds from multiple perspectives without feeling forced, helps the reader relate to our main characters and better understand their motivations and growth. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an unique take on magic as a concept and how different people use (or abuse) it, or how it may use them instead. Plus there's some interesting shenanigans with thievery, realm traveling, and tense fight scenes, so what's not to love?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, and Torture

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Grief, Confinement, and Classism