Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Srebrzyste węże by Roshani Chokshi

6 reviews

alicelalicon's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Grief, Self harm, and Death

karambit's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Racism, Blood, Death, Violence, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Gore, Alcohol, Confinement, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Infertility, Cultural appropriation, and Self harm

forevermorepages's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

plumpaperbacks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely adored this book. The characters are some of my favorites; they’ve all got a special place in my heart, which is thoroughly broken right now. I’m distraught. Roshani Chokshi is an evil genius. She put a brilliant ensemble cast, heartwarming friendships, agonizing romantic tension, mysterious treasure hunts, multiple explosions, banter aplenty, intriguing magic,  unbelievably high stakes, and relevant discussions on many topics including racism and antisemitism all in one book barely over 400 pages. She really did that. I don’t even know what to say. I can only express myself through sad memes as I wait desperately for book three.

Representation:

• Séverin is biracial (French-Algerian)
• Laila is Indian, has anxiety
• Enrique is queer, biracial (Spanish-Filipino)
• Zofia is Jewish, autistic
• Hypnos is biracial (Black), queer

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Blood, Antisemitism, and Infertility

Minor: Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

There’s one scene where a character remembers witnessing a stranger’s suicide as a child.

astralbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• 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: Grief

Moderate: Terminal illness, Antisemitism, and Self harm

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide, Miscarriage, and Animal cruelty

Re sexual assault,

it's assault by deception, someone disguises themself as someone else to get their target into bed, but in the end any sexual contact is narrowly averted

. Re self harm, it's all for magical purposes

azrah786's review against another edition

4.5

 [This full review can also be found on my BLOG] 

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review** 

Though I don’t talk about them enough, these characters and this story live in my head rent free. This sequel was just wOW

The Silvered Serpents picks up a few months after where The Gilded Wolves left off, with grief an ever present shadow hanging around each and every one of the characters. The loss of Tristan has driven the L’Eden gang apart, but upon discovering a lead to a certain powerful artefact – The Divine Lyrics - Séverin is determined to bring the band back together and to do whatever is necessary to find it. 

Roshani’s beautiful and immersive prose transports us right back into her world of secret Houses, magic and Forging, this time taking us on a quest to Russia. The story takes a much darker turn to its predecessor though I feel like it also really comes into its own. The National Treasure-esque storyline is dialled up with higher stakes and more complex puzzles and twists, and further elements of lore and history have been masterfully interwoven into the narrative.

The pacing and new aspects of the Forged magic system and world really keep you on your toes. I don't want to say much with regards to the plot so as not to spoil anything but I was absolutely hooked. 

"Knowledge was coy. It liked to hide beneath the shroud of myth, place its heart in a fairy tale, as if it were a prize at the end of the quest." 

The L’Eden gang are without a doubt my favourite found family and it really hurt to see how the tragedy at the end of the first book had driven a wedge between them and affected their relationships. Their connections with one another were so full of angst and constantly being explored, as was each individual’s arc and backstory - you can really sense a higher level of maturity around all of them. I really loved how well balanced this all was with the plot. Though the frequent banter from the first book has been somewhat reduced there were still some moments of wittiness that will warm your heart - I particularly loved the dynamic that reformed and strengthened between Laila, Zofia and Enrique. I honestly didn’t think I could love these kids any more but I was wrong. 

Now fair warning this book will come with a desire to throttle Séverin on numerous occasions but I feel like Roshani represented grief and its repercussions remarkably well through his character. Again like with book one the various flashbacks added further layers to his story and I won’t lie and say his traumatic childhood had me sympathising with him a little. Well, until he opened his mouth… this boyyyy 

"Séverin Montagnet-Alarie knew there was only one difference between monsters and gods. Both inspired fear. Only one inspired worship." 

If you thought the romance and pining throughout The Gilded Wolves was driving you crazy, if the ending of the first book made you fling the book at the wall, well… 

This book well and truly broke me and I will not know peace until I have book 3 in my hands. (But then again I am terrified of what Roshani has planned for my children.) 

Either way I urge you to read this series and suffer with me! 

Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Self harm, Suicide, and Violence