Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

54 reviews

andy_sfc_reads's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

This was my first incursion into Norse inspired epic fantasy books and I have to say I am throughly impressed. From the descriptions of nature, the world building, and amazing characters Gwynne's writing has me gripped and I can't wait to continue with the saga. 

The best story arc for me is definitely Orka's. She's such an interesting combination of savagery, fierceness and femininity. 

Varg grew up on me as the story progressed and I can't wait to see where the author takes him. Nevertheless, the bright gems in his chapters for me were the secondary characters such as Svik Rokia, Glornir and the rest of them so, I'm excited to see what's next for them 

The only reason why this does not get 5 stars is Elvar. 

Compared to the other two her motivation as a character and as a warrior was so "basic" 

Although TIl recognise that 

in the end she has now bigger and tougher challenges to overcome and wrongs to avenge. Over all her storyline was boring to me. If it weren't for all of the magical and political aspects going on around her I would have skipped some of her chapters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Death, Slavery, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Gore, and War

sennaje's review

adventurous dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Alcohol, Animal death, Torture, Slavery, Vomit, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, and Gore

ripxw's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Death of parent

sollie's review

adventurous 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

I try to keep myself from describing too mamy things as "epic" by my gosh does this book deserve it. The characters are intense and capable and the world grand and dangerous, inspired by norse myth and viking history. I think my favorite scene was when one of the characters, a warrior and mother, going batshit in a battle with a Näcken (nordic fae creature living in streams who lures humans into the water with singing/violin). There were a lot of words borrowed from or inspired by ancient norse and it was a nice, I didn't need to check up any of it. The prose was mostly straightforward, beuatiful at times. All in all a really, really good read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Blood

Moderate: Kidnapping

lenakathryn's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Kidnapping

eegekay's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, War, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence

Moderate: Gore and Body horror

Minor: Fatphobia

poekie9080's review

adventurous funny 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, Murder, Slavery, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, and War

Moderate: Torture and Death of parent

Minor: Vomit

mikah_wazowski's review

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Blood, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Excrement

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Animal death

pamvoss's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Slavery, Violence, War, and Blood

readravereview's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Body horror, Violence, and Animal death