Reviews tagging 'Grief'

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

55 reviews

mariavdl's review

adventurous hopeful relaxing sad

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness

Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, Torture, Misogyny, and Grief

nillech's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

More prequel than standalone in a series. Captivating in its world rife with creative magical realism before the midway slump, but quickly rewarding in its final act if you've managed to overcome the lull.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: War, Death of parent, Death, Child death, and Grief

Minor: Torture and Vomit

febber's review

adventurous 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness

Minor: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit

redpanda_reads's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Murder

emeraldeunoia's review

adventurous inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death of parent

Moderate: Blood and Alcohol

Minor: Torture and War

sophiesmallhands's review

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism and Sexism

Minor: War, Murder, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Chronic illness

melis_salome's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Murder, and Blood

Minor: Vomit, War, Torture, and Self harm

pm_me_book_recs'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The beginning is a slow burn, introducing us carefully and patiently to the world politics and tea magic system, dropping hints of danger and conspiracy to draw us in. About a quarter of the way in, it starts to pick up with the danger and submerges us into the deeply forged ways of Ning's powers with tea. She is a wonderful character, myself being an older sibling I completely resonated with her drive to keep her sister alive. She is indignant toward condescending politicians, sassy with flirtatious strangers, and quick to defend others. I love her and cannot wait to read the second installment to see how this all unfolds. Full of twists, Judy I. Lin leaves us wondering who we can trust. 

Queer representation is pretty good in this one. There is only one relationship (not MC), but it is tender and sweet, fierce, and absolutely normalized and not made a point of. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Violence, Bullying, Classism, Death, and Death of parent

penofpossibilities's review

The writing is good.... its just sO YA and I cant sit through it unless its queer 🫠 its time to accept that its not my genre anymore I think... the mc is so juvenile and makes the stupidest mistakes and she seems to have 0 personality. And I CANNOT with the romance 🫠😭 its so cringe and insta-lovey and I dont careeeeee about straight ppl !!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Grief and Death of parent

emburke's review

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexism, Alcohol, and Bullying