Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

145 reviews

anna_hepworth's review

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

On the one hand, I read this through as fast as I could, and found the writing absolutely mesmerising.  On the other hand, I spent a lot of time thinking 'surely, some of the plot is going to start to resolve'. And that was both for the political plot and the romance plot. 

If you like long, complicated political plots gone through in detail in the foreground of the story, this is a great book. If your preference is to have less of the nitty gritty detail of the complex politics, then this is going to feel long (and at 500+ pages, it is long in and of itself). 

There is a traumatic happening in the early chapters of the story, and there is a lot of time spent on the recovery. The details of the traumatic happening are flagged in a content note in the pages leading up to the first chapter, so if you wish to go in unspoiled, then skipping the early pages is recommended. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Rape

Moderate: Animal death, Xenophobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Transphobia

purplepenning's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Violence, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Sexism, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Body horror, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Classism, Animal death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Outing, Self harm, Vomit, and Xenophobia

Though it's a well-handled journey of healing, a main point of view character experiences significant trauma early in and deals with trauma recovery for much of the book.

jessrock's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

4.5

I almost decided against reading this book after reading the mixed reviews, but I really, really liked it. A significant portion of the book is about the aftermath of being raped, all the fear and mistrust and self-loathing, and I though it was really well handled. That said, the rape is on-page in chapter two, and there's quite a bit of other forms of violence, too; but none of it felt (to me) gratuitous or described any more than necessary. I really loved the relationships between Caethari and Velasin, and between Velasin and Markel. However: Tithena, as a country, was a little too perfect as compared to Velasin's home country of Ralia, and I didn't find the ending convincing at all and really wish it had gone in a different direction. But I liked the rest enough that I'm eager to read more from Foz Meadows.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Animal death

s_l's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad 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? No

3.5

The book was nice, but sort of naive in the way Tithenai society and Cae are so perfect for Vel and Markel, which I know some people would want and need to read about, that in the end it was boring for me
But other than that it was good

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Animal death, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Murder, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry

offthecarousel_'s review

3.75

I shamelessly love the hell out of this book. Was it perfect?? No. But I could not put it down for a moment until I was done. I'm obsessed with the characters and the way they communicate with each other despite not even knowing each other that well.

I definitely suspended my disbelief hard around the question of "why are these two investigating this when they are clearly the ones in danger here, especially when they literally show others are investigating it officially" but I also love two characters solving a mystery so.... I'll allow it. 😂 

Also hell yes for characters speaking multiple languages including sign language, always a plus for me.

I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Content warning for sexual assault, death of an animal friend, and a couple gruesome side character deaths.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, and Rape

jennp28's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

I absolutely loved this story. The mix of intrigue, politics, character and world building, and sweet romance is perfection. This is not usually my go-to genre but I picked it up on recommendation of a reading challenge and am so glad I did! The inclusion of gender and sexuality and their treatment in the various cultures was especially well done and women very well into the story so it didn’t seem preachy or forced. Lots of trigger warnings in this one though so make sure to check those. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Blood, and Homophobia

Minor: Transphobia, Confinement, and Vomit

sissizc's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Animal death, Sexual assault, Murder, Blood, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Self harm, Rape, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Vomit

egcdf's review

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Sexual content, Blood, Animal death, Sexual violence, Rape, and Self harm

Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

bageltop's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Animal death, and Murder

Moderate: Xenophobia

hades_hotline's review against another edition

4.25

the best part of this book was definitely the characters and their dynamics.  i loved the relationship dynamic, the love was so gentle and so beautiful. plot was there but mainly as a vehicle for character development, tho i did appreciate the little plot twist and fast paced (and tense) ending. kept me on my toes and engaged in the story beyond the relationship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Grief, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Homophobia, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

Minor: Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury