Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Una magia más oscura by V.E. Schwab

329 reviews

reasek's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Violence

kirstym25's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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: Death, Violence, and Blood

robin_reads'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? No

5.0

Nothing I thought would happened, did happen. This was amazing, dark and twisted and intense. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

art_books_chemistry's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.75

I am totally intrigued by this twist on the multiverse that Schwab has put together in Darker Shade of Magic. She doesn't necessarily have any particularly unique themes, but maybe it is more so that she has put them together in a unique way. I picked up some Narnia vibes (Magician's Nephew not The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) and although it has been many years since I've read it, it reminded me of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials as well. Regardless, I am absolutely wrapped up in the main characters' lives, rooting for them and dying to find out where they go from here. 

I guessed early on that there might be something extra special about Lila. I was a little disappointed to not get an answer in this first book, especially when I thought it was quite obvious and wasn't being very well hidden. But I'm invested in her story and love how eccentric she is. As much as Kell has a bit of moral greyness about him from being a smuggler, he's quite straight-laced overall and Lila is definitely his personality foil which makes the book more fun. 

I also seem to be on a kick lately with my fantasy books where they all have cliffhanger endings on the first book of a series. I kind of miss books that finish their major plot line for the book and just continue an overarching theme from then onward. Not to say that I disliked the ending, it was certainly a logical stopping point but it definitely didn't feel "finished". 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

alienistdorah's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was so good that I'm already on book 2! This book starts a bit slow [for world-building, learning how the magic works] and then it PICKSSS UPPPPP! I was clutching my pearls ya'll. I was stressed out. If you love dark adventures, mystery, thieves, and magic this is for you! [There is a TINY bit of romance, TINY!] My favorite character is Rhy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and Sexual harassment

abbypeekreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder

gwenergy's review against another edition

adventurous

• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Some of the plot points seemed predictable, but the worldbuilding was enjoyable. I personally didn't enjoy the narration of the audiobook, and think I may have enjoyed the book a little more if I had just read it. I may be interested in pursuing the rest of the series, but likely in print rather than audiobook. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Self harm

Not exactly self-harm, but

blood magic, with lots of cutting into arms, wrists, hands, etc

mobymaize's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

A lovely romp through multiple Londons, similar to, but not the same as, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Super exciting and felt like a very well done HBO mini series in the best way possible :)
Planning on reading the sequels at some point!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Main character uses magic by through self harm. Just a heads up.

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

adventurous fast-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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Genocide, Sexual content, Excrement, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Alcohol

sandwiiche's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

a cool introduction to this world! i really loved the magic system, but felt like the characters weren't quite fleshed out enough for me to care about them

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail