Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

5 reviews

madamenovelist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Medical content, Misogyny, War, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Blood, and Torture

Moderate: Alcohol

awkwardimagination's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring sad tense medium-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

4.75

This book was so much more emotional than the first. It felt faster, probably due to it's shorter time frame than the plot of the first book, stretching years. And it actually made me cry, like actual tears wear shed during the last 100 pages. This was not where I thought the romantic plot would go, but I am not upset about it. The ending, filled with grief and pain, was amazing, but I do feel slightly unsatisfied with how it finished. I know there may be another book coming, so hopefully, what I would've liked from this ending is there. Xingyin continues to be my favourite protagonist ever, I honestly love her, and I highly doubt I will respect and love another character as much as her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, War, Grief, Violence, Death, Blood, Child death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infidelity

Minor: Torture

major character death

dragongirl271's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Child death, and Torture

navayiota's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

Somehow even better than the first. So worth the wait. I think this might be the first book to have ever made me romantically interested in a character. Wenzhi stole my heart and it was so unexpected, cause Liwei was and is still my favourite character. I think that it was all executed perfectly. Tan managed to capture the experience of being in love with two people which is usually too difficult to verbalise in an informal setting, nevermind in a book with such wonderful writing. Reading it was a healing experience. I never forgot about the first book and I will never forget about this one either. I don't do re-reads often but I might do it for this series. 

How I wish there was a third book, so we could watch them fall in love again. I wanted more time with Liwei, he was such a pure soul in that way that only fictional people can be. I felt heartbroken for him when Xingyin picked Wenzhi, but it was also healing for me. Seeing someone do everything right, be the best version of themselves and still be rejected because the person they love does not love them back.. Xingyin not wanting him back does not make him any less valuable as a person. It doesn't blow out the light in his soul. He continues to exist. He is her friend. It gives one hope after heartbreak.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Torture, Blood, Child death, Death, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Alcohol and Fire/Fire injury

calicat42's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Child death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury