Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

222 reviews

ktkumpf's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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? No

4.0

This was a good read, good enough I'm going to continue with the Grisha-verse for the time being. But this suffered from overhyping. People have said this is a crazy good book, and while its a good book it will inevitably fall flat compared to what you're hoping for. I can't tell how much of that is because I chose to read this before Shadow and Bone, because I've not read YA in a while, or what. It is absolutely a good book and one I'd recommend it just always felt a little hollow compared to what I was reading before, I had a more difficult time picturing the characters and understanding them, and Kaz, Inej, Nina, and somewhat Mathias were developed at the expense of Jesper (who I think is my fave at a base level) and Wylan. Which is kinda a problem because this book is so written for miniseries adaptation it is almost painful. It was great but it left me wanting. I also had to age the kids up in my head at times because some of the things that have happened to characters (Inej) in the past are just a little too uncomfy even if it is left at vague references. It does however have one of the most heart wrenching lines I've ever read (p. 389) so even while the romance is kept very very vague it managed to hit home. Also loved the disability representation! Looking forward to what the rest of the books have to offer.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence

brief mention/ implied sexual slavery taking place prior to the events of the book, only referenced abstractly

undeadcorvid's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

A major character details events leading up to and following a year spent in sexual slavery. She is also taunted by her slaver. Nothing explicit is shown but plenty is heavily implied via flashbacks and dialogue.

urfavgrainne's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Ableism, Trafficking, and Murder

moonbunny117's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Ableism, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexual violence and Injury/Injury detail

ssoha's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

ghoststations's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

A wild ride from start to finish. Leant a little heavily on the changing points of view to give the reader the element of surprise/suspence towards the end, but was still thoroughly enjoyable though all of those moments. Characters that I loved/loved to hate, worldbuilding that blended nicely into the story. Relationships (friendships, romance, rivalries, etc) that all felt real and were compelling. Can't wait to read the sequel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gun violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, War, Gore, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Blood, Child death, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism

Minor: Gore, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Blood

Casual use of the word "cripple", with the context that the books is written by a disabled author.

sginnaw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Racism, Drug use, and Genocide

Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, War, Addiction, and Cursing

Minor: Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

sarah_hutchins's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Slavery, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Gore, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Cursing

ferlefur's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Death

Moderate: Violence and Sexual violence

david_slack110507's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.5

About a year or so ago, I began reading the Shadow and Bone trilogy as a means to enter Leigh Bardugo's world of the Grishaverse, admittedly, the main reason why I had started to read that trilogy was to start reading this duology, the Six of Crows duology, as it had been so widely critically acclaimed, recommended, and well received that they were put on my radar but I decided I would read the Shadow and Bone trilogy books first, as while not necessary to read these books, I'm glad I did as not only did it allow me to appreciate the little nods and mentions to the aforementioned trilogy spread throughout this book, but it also meant that I wasn't going into this book blind when it came to the lore and the Grisha systems of the world. I also found that it allowed me to appreciate the overall upward shift in quality because while eventually, I did really enjoy the Shadow and Bone books, this one was just another level. 

One of the main enticements of this book for me was the characters and I'm glad to say that the characters, at least our main group of 6, all were incredibly well-written and developed. I think their connections as a group as well as intergroup connections with one another were so well done. I loved them all - Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Nina, and Matthias - and I found that I was never once bored when it shifted to either one of their perspectives which I'm really glad this book did as everyone had a unique character background which explained why they were doing what they were doing as well as having unique perspectives on the heist that lay ahead of them. 

Speaking of the heist, I found that the heist as the plot was actually really strong, and it helped move the book along at a brisk but nice pace allowing for moments to breathe before the next one arrived. I found the pre-planning and the constant shift in plan when something unaccounted for happened or when something wrong took place was extremely enjoyable and it was really good to see these characters constantly face change during their heist on the Ice Court and adapt the best that they could. 

I also really liked seeing the world beyond Ravka and the Grisha's perspective as that was something that, now looking back on it, was missing from the Shadow and Bone books so it was interesting to see what the Fjerdans/Fjerda thinks of Grisha and vice versa as well as seeing the story set in a place of less elegance and extravagance than Ravka with East Stave and the 'Barrel'. It also built upon Grisha magic with the introduction of Jurda Parem, a drug that allows Grisha to do unimaginable things that break the previous limits of their power; I do wish we had gotten to see more of it but I also think that what we saw did demonstrate well enough why it was so dangerous to the world and why it was imperative that this not fall into the wrong hands. 

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this even if it did take me a lot longer than I wanted to but I found it to be a huge step up from the Shadow and Bone books and the next book is rated even better so I can't even imagine how good of a treat that'll be which I'm hoping to get around to relatively soon as I try and finish up the other books I have on the go. I'm interested in seeing whether or not the next book, Crooked Kingdom, will resolve the cliffhanger off screen (or off the page in this instance, with explanations in the form of exposition spread throughout to explain it) or whether it will start the book and wrap it up relatively quickly to then go onto the actual plot of that book but I guess only time will tell.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Kidnapping, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse, Child death, Confinement, Sexual assault, Torture, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Ableism, Cursing, Drug use, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Abandonment, Addiction, and Rape

Minor: Classism, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Alcohol