Reviews tagging 'War'

Une Fenêtre sur les ténèbres by Benjamin Peylet, Rachel Gillig

12 reviews

mari1532's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I have been hearing about this book everywhere and was finally able to get the audiobook through my library after several weeks of having it on hold with Libby. Overall, I was not gripped by this story until the third act and then I was absolutely invested. For the first two-thirds, I was more just going with the flow learning who all the characters were and the world-building facts that Gilling was integrating into the story. 

I am a bit confused by two things throughout the story. First, Ione's whole subplot confused me. How did Ione and Elspeth grow up so close and then diverge so quickly on their paths? Elspeth was a well-constructed character and throughout her motivations were clear, but I have no idea why Ione was making the choices that she was. The game that all the characters play toward the climax of the book did make things slightly clearer, but overall she did not feel fully fleshed out. I hope that she gets a bigger subplot in the next book. 

The second thing that was confusing for me throughout the book and it is possible that I just did not understand this in the text is how many cards there are in total. There are rarer cards that are much harder to find, but some of the cards are quite ubiquitous. The cards seemed to be important for displays of power, but I'm not sure if two different decks are being constructed by the two factions or if one group is ahead in the number of cards that they have. 

I really enjoyed the romance subplot of the book. The dynamics between the characters were fun to watch develop throughout the book.

The ending of this book was absolutely shocking and gripping! I have no idea how Gillig is going to resolve all the loose ends in the next book, but I cannot wait to find out.  

Highly recommend. It starts a bit slow but the plot is worth the wait. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

jmwal's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was so unique and dark, and i loved every second of it.

Ravyn and Elspeth are just 😍

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse and War

rchulin1's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

A very interesting fantasy book different from a lot of other books I read in the genre has some gothic themes 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, War, and Classism

slevine18's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

What a fun read! This story felt so fresh and the magic system was so cool.  I really enjoyed this colorful ensemble of characters, whose wit, valor and steadfast loyalty to one another easily won my heart. The story was set up with such interesting details and parameters that allowed for some very enchanting plot points. It took me a little bit to get into it but once the main cast of characters had been established I found myself floating easily along the story. And the last third I was locked. In. Omg I cannot wait to read the sequel!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, and Sexual content

ebyrne505's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and War

samsbookcorner's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness and Terminal illness

Minor: Death, Sexual content, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

bethann_coleates's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

matchamarimo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and War

dani794's review against another edition

4.25

It had some good potential. I did enjoy it.
I did like the first half more than the second.

Elspeth and Ravyn's relationship moved a little too quickly for me, it was a lil surface level. I liked all the characters and their relationships, if it digged a little bit deeper into the layers of these characters it could've been really nice.
Elm I found particularly fun

I'm excited for the next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail

nobosmomma's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

This book is an addictive, fast-paced fantasy. There is a little romance undertone, but it is mostly focused on the MCs saving the world they live in. The riddles & snippets of the past we see are well thought out, and the cliffhanger ending will leave you breathless. Beautiful debut novel. 
Warning for people who are triggered by mental health or “voices in your head”. This book does contain those themes. There is also descriptive violence, swearing, and mildly descriptive sexual language. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and War

Minor: Sexual content