Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

63 reviews

ohennui's review against another edition

emotional slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Blood, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent and Physical abuse

aliyahoff's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Torture

Moderate: Physical abuse, Antisemitism, and Violence

riththewarluid's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed The Familiar quite a bit, but I would not call it Bardugo’s best work. She shines in world building and historical research, which comes through in this book, but for me there was a disjunct between that historical world building and the effect this world had on the main characters. They felt like they were existing in this lush world but not being truly affected by it in any way. I’m think in particular about how religious belief features in the world and is presented as an important facet of the main characters identity but it never seems to really come to any conclusion and even seems to drop off in importance with no explanation. So while I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it for people interested in a dark alternate history set in the Spanish Inquisition, don’t go into this expecting very much character development from the main two characters; also the romance is extremely rushed and not really fleshed out or explored at all, and that was disappointing. The two main characters are so different and complicated and difficult and I wanted so much more from their relationship. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Murder, Torture, and Death

Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual content

sxndaze's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.25

A thousand stories. A thousand 
meanings. But in the end, it belongs to no one, except the woman who holds it in her hand.

a little slow in the beginning, but it’s an addicting read. the amount of names and characters that are thrown at you can be overwhelming at times too, but that’s the nature of fantasy i think. luzia is a wonderful character and her drive and ambition is something you can’t help but root for. santángel is dark and broody and everything i love in a character and the two of them together are chefs kiss. 

the plot is intriguing and the magic system is fascinating. the development of the side characters is wonderful too and i enjoyed my time with them. it’s definitely something i want to revisit again in the future.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infertility, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol

allyareads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Confinement, Torture, Antisemitism, Blood, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

themis_biblos's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

 I only wanted a little warmth. I didn't know what kind of fire I would start. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Death, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content

soniajoy98's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Classism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Sexism

Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Gore, Islamophobia, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Grief, Biphobia, Ableism, Confinement, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Infertility, and War

mikaelawithak's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Death, Confinement, Xenophobia, Violence, Gore, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery

camiclarkbooks's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cursing, Abandonment, Antisemitism, Misogyny, Medical content, Confinement, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, War, and Pregnancy

dreamer626's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Death