Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Once there were creatures who swam like fish in the sea and others who wielded lightning bolts instead of spears. They are gone now, replaced with something new

The review contains spoilers!!!

PRELIMINARY

So, first of all, I would like to start by saying that, despite my love of English history, my modest knowledge extends only to monarchs - even those only minimally - just as much as I need, so to speak, I jumped blindly into a rough sea and waited for the miracle that would throw me ashore.

I wouldn't say I particularly loved this book, but I didn't hate it. I think that's okay, because it's been so long and no one would be able to keep the reader's attention for that long.

For me, I liked the previous part better, but everyone has their own opinion about this.

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DIANA

I used to try not to judge and keep all my thoughts to myself, but now I am free to say them. Diana has changed tremendously, and I don't know if it's for better or for worse. For me, she is so complicated — and not in a good way — that I can't figure her out. Sometimes she obeys as simply as if it's the other thing besides breathing that keeps her alive, and other times she resists so fiercely that I think I'm the one who went crazy.

In short, she stopped and stopped developing her character as if it never existed. I want the old Diana back in the next book, I really want her back.

I am extremely glad that she managed to understand herself and her magic, or at least set out on the path to make this possible. I'm not saying it was a short road for her — and there's so much more left — but I do say that she dragged herself toward her destiny if necessary. She has been through so much and suffered too long to endure it again, and for her sake - and for the sake of her unborn children - I hope she finds the peace and tranquility she is looking for.

MATTHEW

Perhaps I should give up believing in his salvation. He is the devil, a demon, the darkness that consumes the light and even now – for inexplicable reasons – I forgive his sins. I understand the reasons for his actions, I understand them and consider the consequences, I sincerely forgive him.

I have to say that he has sunk too far back into the patriarchal order and tried to control what he could not. If he had been my husband and commanded me like that, I would have left him in the hell place and then run back into his arms in case of danger, because let's face it, no matter how bad things he did, he is an indomitable warrior and a great defender.

He had an extremely complicated relationship with everyone, but especially with his father. I couldn't really decide at the beginning if they loved each other now or if they were just angry. Either way, the fact that he had to kill him — because my poor Ysabeaum couldn't — in his deathbed is something that will chase me forever.

THE OTHERS

Philippe, I'm crying for him and because of him. Somehow I thought he would be kinder, and then I thought he would be crueler. However, he did everything for his family and loved them all with all his heart, even those who caused him so much trouble. I especially liked that despite years passing, he continued to honor the old gods and traditions, the customs of his ancestors. My heart bleeds so much from the knowledge that he couldn't meet his grandchildren.

Gallowglass, he's the corner of my heart, the other half of my soul, really. I could give him everything I had for caring so well for Diana, even though he had nothing to do — Louisa could learn from him— with her. I hope we see him again, because I want to know what happened to him.

Jack & Annie, my lives, my little babies. They have grown so close to my heart that I can't even tell you. They both deserve so much, so much better. I cry knowing that Annie will die - her life as a witch is finite - but Jack will live.

Goody & other witches, they really put their heart and soul into - even though they were afraid of Diana for a while - to help her in everything, even when they knew all her secrets and sides. I am extremely sorry that we will not get more of them, but as they always say; Don't revisit what's already done.

Elizabeth, I didn't think I'd love her, but hey I'm here and I do it. There was a lot of reality to the character (like cavities), and even though I believed how badly Matthew was treating, it turned out that a little toothache and a tiny moment of weakness were enough to melt the heart of ice. They were so cute, the way they nicknamed each other (Lizzie & Sebastian) is honestly one of my favorite scenes.

Kit, I don't understand him, but meanwhile I do. I don't think he was the evil one in this story, he was just offended and felt abandoned and desperate souls - just like him - could do anything. Property has gone a long way, but who hasn't?

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THE PLOT/ETC.

For me, the plot was a bit confusing, maybe even untraceable at some points, or illogical, but everyone has flaws.

The pace was good and we got very authentic period descriptions, which i was very happy about because I thought I would be disappointed.

The love thread was still a bit far-fetched for me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love them, but I couldn't get married to someone after four weeks and then have kids.

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THE END

I can't wait to continue and find out about the continuation of their story!

Content Warnings

mary_juleyre's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny informative mysterious 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

4.5

Content Warnings

kat1105's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad 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

5.0

Content Warnings

redheadsuperpowers's review

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emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.0

300 pages in and already annoyed with the menfolk. I am reminded of why I avoid historical romances. Matthew has fallen away from his modern memory, and is treating Diana as if she were from the Elizabethan era and not the educated woman she is. At risk due to a jealous ass of his friend, who has attempted to stir witchcraft sentiments against her in a time and place where witches were burned!! I seethe, as all could have been avoided if her was listening and respecting her intelligence. Men.ugh.

I read this directly after reading the first in the series. It did lend some to the storyline, but overall, it just reminded me I hate historical novels. I am more of an urban fantasy reader.

In this follow up to A Discovery of Witches, we find our leads Diana and Matthew time walking back to Elizabethan England. With a jealous wannabe paramour for Matthew, active witch hunts, and time appropriate intrigue, it drags a bit. Matthew is once again keeping too many secrets, but Diana is finally learning her own abilities. We meet Philippe and Stephan, and see both leads get some closure with their fathers. Diana changes history by being herself. We met lots of major historical players that were apparently Matthew's friends. That man sure involves himself in major events for someone changing lives so often. All in all, it was a decent book, and while long winded, did lend depth to the storyline.

Content Warnings

laura_mcloughlin's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

My favorite of the series. Yes, the plot is extremely slow moving. It takes almost half the book for Matthew and Diana to actually start doing the thing that sent them to Elizabethian England. Do I care? No, I do not. I like the meandering plot and the characters we meet along the way.

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theespressoedition's review

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adventurous challenging slow-paced

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

3.0

Reading this series has been such an experience for me. As someone who grew up with such intense love for YA fantasy, moving into adult fantasy has been a little bit of a struggle. While yes, I find myself relating with the characters a bit more because I'm in their age group, it seems like adult fantasy, as a whole, takes a much slower pace to focus on world-building. I'll admit that I prefer quicker paces and more focus on character development, but I'm learning to appreciate this genre more and more, and the All Souls books are really helping with that!

Because this was a sequel, it followed the same progression as a lot of fantasy sequels and slowed down a lot to introduce you to the world in which the characters are living. I found myself zoning out a few times, but I think that a lot of that had to do with the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of historical references (which is why I tend to stay away from historical fiction) and so the true immersion into the 16th century was a bit uninteresting to me, personally.

That being said, I did, however, really enjoy how so many of the characters were real people. Maybe it's not exactly what they were like in reality, but it made the story more fun because it gave me the chance to imagine what they could've been like in those circumstances. There were a few really interesting references to well-known individuals that made my mind continue to ponder long after I finished the book (ex: Annie and who she actually was!)

One of the things this series has done is stick in my brain. Just like when I finished the first book, I've found myself revisiting the plot of the sequel to consider certain things and how they could play into the future of the story. Even though I might not have been 100% immersed in every single part while I was actively reading, it won't leave my mind now that I've completed it. This alone makes me all the more excited to dive into The Book of Life.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

Content Warnings

btrz7's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

1.5

Oh God, I thought this book would never end.
For as much as the premise sounds interesting and just what I would love (magic creatures time travelling to the past), the book itself falls miserably short of anything.
First, I think I just read a book with absolutely no plot. It drags on and on and on and you really don't know what's the point of it (or rather, you know what the point is meant to be, but the book itself seems to have forgotten). Second, the two main characters became kind of insufferable. Matthew seems to be the most important man at any point in space and time, who knows everyone of importance, is involved in everything, and can influence just about anything and anyone. Diana is the most special witch to have existed, and despite knowing nothing about magic, she is also apparently one of the most powerful. Together, they go through time and meet a new historical figure every 10 pages or so. Forgetting, along the way, everything they're there to do.
So yeah, I fail to see what this book accomplished in the trilogy, as most of it seemed to be both of the main characters dressing up and going out and being dramatic about their marriage.

Content Warnings

katielaine_w's review

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slow-paced

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

1.0

Turned from a problematic relationship to an abusive one all the good parts of the world building were thrown out ant turned into literal knitting.

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