Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Once & Future by Cory McCarthy, A.R. Capetta

7 reviews

lastcomment314's review against another edition

adventurous fast-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

3.75

It was almost so good. I love me a good gay Arthurian fantasy, and this one had a cool twist with being set in space, and some nice found family vibes, but the overall delivery on this one held it back. Stylistically, it wasn't quite my cuppa tea. There were also certain scenes that seemed forced, and the focus on sex and bodily functions was a bit much for my tastes. To summarize discussion with group I read this with, we don't care about Merlin relieving himself in the crystal cave, we care about the quest to overthrow the unjust, tyrannical king company.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, Excrement, Colonisation, Violence, Cursing, Death, War, Classism, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Torture, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Grief, Death of parent, Racism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy

longlost's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

this is the superior king arthur mythos adaptation

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Genocide, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Confinement, Kidnapping, Racism, Pregnancy, and Cursing

Minor: Sexual content and Rape

iksme's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Murder, War, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Genocide, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Cursing, and Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

sssssoup's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-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

4.25

This book was so much fun. It was a great experience and reading it was a treat. The plot, characters, and world building all felt very well developed and it felt very different than a lot of other YA I’ve read.

The main cast members were all interesting and likable with distinct personalities and a variety of identities. There wasn’t a ton of development during the story for them - except for Merlin - but it didn’t really bother me. I wish some of the characters in the main group got more page time, but I was pretty happy with them for the most part. Overall I really liked the found family dynamic the group had.

The plot was definitely been done before, and it wasn’t the most interesting one I’ve ever read. I was definitely more invested in the characters themselves than what they were trying to accomplish. That being said, the last hundred pages or so felt very strange to me. Everything got pretty confusing and I wasn’t a fan of the direction the authors went with some of the characters and their dynamics.

Despite its flaws, I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it, especially to someone who’s looking for a lot of representation. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Genocide, and Racism

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Torture, and Pregnancy

aseel_reads's review

adventurous 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

this was actually a lot of fun and quite gripping - a sci-fi retelling of Arthur with super diverse characters?? a FANTASTIC idea. it definitely took some time to get hooked into it but I think it's because I don't vibe much sign sci-fi as a genre, not the hooks fault. was pleasantly surprised by all the books twists and turns - pretty original while staying true to the og story. keen to see what happens in the next book

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Pregnancy, Grief, Death of parent, and Death

violet_pages's review

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Animal death

Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Confinement, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Torture

Minor: Rape and Sexual content

valereads's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

When I first heard about this book I was immediately intrigued but wrote it off the second I saw it was sci-fi. Then I read two sci-fi books in a row that I enjoyed and saw a couple of great reviews so decided to give it a chance. I did not regret it.

If you're looking for a critique of this novel you've come to the wrong place. This review is pretty much going to be a list of everything I loved about this book (and reasons you should probably pick it up).

One thing I couldn't not mention about this book is the diversity. So many queer identities are represented in this story and I love how it's just accepted as normal in this world - something I for one desperately needed right now.

This story follows a fun and immediately likeable cast of characters who I just want more from. And yes that means I will be picking up the sequel as soon as I can. I got attached to them quickly. Merlin in particularly was brilliant. I loved reading from his point of view which was usually a lot of fun.

I also love what they did with some elements of the original King Arthur myth. This take of Morgana was particularly good to read about and I love what they ended up doing with her.

Overall this book was a fun read with likeable characters. That's all I really have to say. If you enjoy diverse books, science fantasy or the King Arthur legend I'd recommend giving it a try. And if you're a fan of the CBBC Merlin TV show I could not recommend this to you more.

Content Warnings: discussions of rape, torture, genocide, animal death, graphic violence

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death, Genocide, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Infidelity and Rape