Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Une Fenêtre sur les ténèbres by Benjamin Peylet, Rachel Gillig

7 reviews

chanlo1994's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

What a refreshing read.

I'm so glad the author avoided very classic tropes, such as "you lied to me, and now that I know your deep dark secret, you're dead to me ".

Concepts such as understanding and forgiveness within a relationship makes this an enjoyable read, especially with the world building and magic system used. And Raven makes me swoon.... lol

I also really liked the different examples on the theme of consent, as most of them are not related to sex. Body autonomy, yes absolutely, but not sex. It examplifies that sex is not the only time where consent is needed.

Also, the writing is so beautiful??? Both the poetry and the narration. It's why I gave it a full 5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Drugging

kmart_ceo's review against another edition

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

5.0

A dark fantasy with a card system for magic. It’s different and frankly refreshing. I couldn’t stop reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

barbarianmissy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

4.5⭐️

K this book was a solid 4 stars for me until the last 50 pages BECAUSE THAT ENDING (WOWZA!) easily bumped it up to 4.5. I love it when authors aren’t afraid of switching up the dynamics of the characters. 

The reason it wasn’t a solid 5 stars is cause I felt the romance plot was a little rushed. I didn’t dislike it, but at the same time it was a smidge forced in my opinion. Needed a little more banter and build up rather than just obviously already secretly being in love with each other pretty much the whole time. Like even when he has a right to be mad at her for her keeping a rather big secret from him, he forgives her almost immediately before he’s even upset. There’s no fight for it. Idk, it was just too easy!!! 

But I kind of liked that the romance wasn’t the main focus of the book, there was way more important shit to focus on. 

As for stand out characters, man, I love “the Nightmare”. He’s just a crazy lil guy who loves word play. Go off, king! What an icon. Excited for more from this lil psychopath. 

Also, I truly love Elm. Why did Elm and Elspeth have more chemistry than her and Ravyn? Like, I felt like they even had more scenes together?! Ravyn trusted and loved her from the start, so I felt like the relationship didn’t build, BUT Elm is super wary of her and RIGHTFULLY SO and they have a fun bantery dynamic! IDK, I FEEL LIKE THERES POTENTIAL THERE. NO? JUST ME?! ok whatever. Anyways. Loved him. He’s great. 

Ione, I’m interested in seeing more from her. I feel like she’s a part of some grand sub plot. Excited for her potential. 

In conclusion… The world building, magic system, overall badassery and concept of this book is outstanding. It was so friggin cool. Loved it. If the author took a smidge more time building the relationships between the characters it would’ve been an easy 5 stars for me. 

Excited for BOOK 2! LETS GO GIRLS!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

edilyaaang's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Easily 5 stars.

It was a little confusing at the first few chapters because of the world building. But when you get past that, it will take your breath away.

This had me at the edge of my seat, holding my breath the entire time. How the story unfold was perfection. I didn't even expect to cry but I did at the last part. 

This was a very great read to start the new year and I can't wait to read the second book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Sexual content, and Alcohol

eviethebookworm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? N/A

5.0

Elspeth is a haunted character being played by forces out of her control in this dark and gothic novel. 
There’s fake courtship, there’s forbidden magic, and there’s twisting lore. Rachel Gillig has been able to balance the morbid and eerie with bursts of emotion that bring characters to life on the page. Also, there’s a grumpy 500-year-old monster in the mix. What’s not to love? 

If you enjoy authors like V. E. Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic), Vanessa Len (Only a Monster), and Kristin Cashore (Graceling), you’ve found a new name to add to the collection of favourites.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

miraclesnow's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The Nightmare

is what made this book for me, along with a few thematic and atmospheric elements being done exceedingly well. It was indeed lush for what I would feel is a good YA story. 

It was small things but ‘trade me masks’ vs ‘trade masks with me’ little sentences like this really bothered me grammar wise and kept it from becoming a full 5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death and Death of parent

clairew97's review against another edition

dark funny 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism