Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

19 reviews

tjandjamiestephens1291's review

adventurous emotional funny 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Kidnapping, Blood, and Trafficking

Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol

amy_in_the_city's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

 This book felt unfocused, constantly switching between too many plot threads and POVs. I feel like we could have done without a couple of the POVs, like Tharion's. He was just strange and kind of unlikeable (with the condescending nickname for Bryce and the creepy obsession with her underwear; wtf was that?), and I just didn't care about him. 

As a result of trying to cram in the various plotlines and other character POVs, I feel like Bryce and Hunt got lost in the shuffle. I was hoping to learn more about the main couple and see more of their relationship, but they were mostly in the story to serve the plot instead of the plot serving them. I missed seeing cute relationship moments like we had in the first book, and I don't feel like we really learned any more about Bryce and Hunt's pasts or struggles. I was hoping to see Hunt working through his emotions about the awful things he's done as the Umbra Mortis, his trauma from being enslaved, etc. but it seemed like all of that mostly went away or got brushed aside.

I loved seeing more of Ruhn and enjoyed his storyline of

falling in love with a spy sight-unseen

. I'm still not sure how I feel about who his lover ended up being and think he deserved better. Maybe I'll learn more about the love interest in the third book that will make me like her more.

Ithan seemed like an OK character, but I'm just tired of every guy in this book being in love with Bryce for some reason, and I wish that wasn't part of Ithan's character. I have hopes he'll be better in the next book as they seemed to be setting up some interesting storylines for him.

Everyone seemed to be making stupid decisions in this book. They're

constantly talking about their rebellion plans while walking down the street and while in public bars and cafes. They all know they live in a surveillance state, so why are they risking talking so openly in public places?

They also

send the kid everyone is looking for to go live with the main character's parents. Nobody thinks it will look suspicious that these people suddenly adopted an older kid who fits the description of the kid everyone is looking for?

Tharion decides to

break up with the River Princess without having a plan in place for escaping from the angry River Queen.

This guy is supposed to be the Head of Intelligence?

I really didn't like that the book ended on such a cliffhanger. I get that it's a series, but when I finish reading a romance book, I don't want to be left feeling worried for characters who <spoiler are in mortal peril and are going to be tortured for who knows how long. If I wanted that, I'd go read a normal fantasy series, not a romance fantasy. The only solution I can think of for how to avoid having such a stressful ending for the readers while still having plenty of stakes for Bryce in the next book is if

after Bryce disappears through the gate, somehow Ruhn and Hunt escaped or were rescued and went into hiding. Then Bryce could still be out of her mind with worry for what her brother and mate are going through, but the reader would know they're fine for now.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Slavery, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Murder, Infidelity, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Confinement, Cursing, and Colonisation

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gun violence, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Genocide, and Grief

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

unboundbooklover's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The ending was a redeeming quality and made me want to rate it higher. I loved the book, but some parts were extremely long and repetitive. Sometimes Bryce kept thinking the same things, which I guess is realistic, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of her in this book. I feel like she’s a bit of a hypocrite with disliking “alpha-holes” and associating them only with males, when her personality is very similar. Hunt was kind of dull because he let her walk all over him. She messed up a lot of things and instead of there being character growth, she kept being reckless which was frustrating. I’m trying to be vague, but her entitled personality and her hating that a certain thing occurred made not sense to me and she seemed very dramatic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Sexual content

samellecooke's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring tense fast-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

5.0

Nothing but 5's for my queen, SJM. She does it again. If you held me to the fire, I would have to say that I prefer HOEAB to this book, but it was amazing nonetheless. We get to explore our main characters more. We meet some new ones. SJM never ceases to amaze with our her mind works in weaving intricate and ever unfurling stories. She is a truly fantastical storyteller and world builder.

Like many SJM fans, especially those from ACOTAR, I spent this entire book peering around the corner for the one and only. Rhysand. I read somewhere months ago that someone said Rhys makes a little cameo in this book. Like you're just reading and then all of a sudden you get hit with a "Hello, Bryce darling..." and I was just living for that moment throughout the entire book. And when I say the entire book, I mean it literally. While we do get Rhys as promised...it isn't until the last freaking chapter, practically the last page. 

This was emotionally draining (in the best way), but I'm so thrilled SJM wrote this book, this series, to tie in her other worlds. Gotta love a multiverse.

The ending to this book didn't get me quite like HOEAB did and I have to say, I'm little sadden by this. I'm so used to the trauma that only SJM can deliver. My resolve was hardened and it wasn't needed, lol. Nevertheless, I am beyond excited for CC #3 and cannot wait to see how SJM ties everything together and what is next for our band of magical friends.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Kidnapping, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use

cdoubet's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense slow-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: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Death, Alcohol, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, War, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Blood, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Medical content, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture

Minor: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Rape, Abandonment, and Child abuse

readwithde's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was everything a sequel should be, imo. All the chaos from the first book needed to be processed while power players moved and planned.

This was a perfect villain story for the Asteri akin to Empire Strikes Back. It was set up and played beautifully, and honestly saved this book from being simply another grand romantasy.

The pacing for the twists and truth behind actions was perfect; though the rebel movement storyline did not make much sense to me, it set up the broader world and bigger threats very well.

Bryce was a bit annoying, and Hunt was a bit underwhelming, but the supporting cast was absolutely incredible. Team Ruhn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Classism, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, Cursing, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Colonisation, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Grief, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Confinement, and Drug use

Minor: Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Infidelity, Infertility, and Rape

itsblaw's review

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use

jlyles_177's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Blood, Torture, War, Cursing, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Slavery, and Violence

anjasshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, War, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Torture, Classism, Colonisation, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Slavery

meredith_williams_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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

The second installment of Crescent City was just as fun as the first! I loved that the author continued the mystery plot line from the first book. The cast of characters and the world building are excellent and the ending was such an exciting plot twist that has me especially excited for the next book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Grief, and Torture

Minor: Rape