Reviews tagging 'War'

Tenebre e ossa by Leigh Bardugo

148 reviews

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-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

The world and magic systems are creative yet also rooted in reality without holes that leave me asking logic questions. I love the complexity of Alina and the surrounding characters who bring the story together. Book 1 is as much about sacrifice and belonging as it is becoming who you are meant to be. Many of the shocking moments felt half expected for me because of my consideration of the characters. One event that should have been predictable took me off guard, having thought I understood the Darkling's motivations and calculations. Ravka is a country I would not want to live in, because it is very dark and deadly. Those qualities are what I love about the book, though, along with the Russian influences of the world. Starting this series took me entirely too long. Most of the book I read in 2 days. I would have liked more flashbacks of Mal early on to bring forth more sympathy about him and Alina's loss of her friend, but their present time together feels reminiscent of the past in a weird way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Classism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Gun violence

Minor: Alcohol, Grief, and Death of parent

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Toxic friendship, War, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Violence, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Classism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

pooxs's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Slavery, Blood, Toxic relationship, and War

junglejelly's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and sped through it. I really enjoyed the simple but effective world building. 

While there are many things to like about the book, there were a few things that didn't make it quite perfect. I wanted more:
* Grisha lore;
* location descriptions;
* and connection with the prologue and epilogue.

While not perfect, I couldn't put the book down and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Animal death

Minor: War, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse

gabthebookworm's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death

Moderate: Blood and War

cr1na's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

3.75

I liked this book but Mal is insufferable as a love interest. I just found myself completely unable to route for any love interest but most of all him. Reminded me too much of one of my friend's shitty boyfriends. If you get easily annoyed by painfully average guys being love interests of super-powered women, I'd avoid this story.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Colonisation, Death, and War

meant2breading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.25

As a reader new to fantasy in adulthood over the last six months, this felt like a nice, quick entry level fantasy read to start with. I really love the concept of the various abilities and aspects of the world building, but wanted more explanation and detail of that within the story. I am sure I will learn more as I keep going. In all honesty, I am motivated to read through them all so I can get to the Six of Crows duology. 😆 I didn’t rate this higher stars as for me it doesn’t stack against some of the other fantasy books I couldn’t get enough of and it’s hard for me to read about

animal death

. 

However, due to the author’s recent lack of solidarity and dismissal of genocide, I will not be continuing her books at this time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, War, and Violence

Moderate: Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship and Death of parent

sunflower7skull's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I thought it was a good book! I went into it knowing a ton of people like it, which I think was my problem - I was expecting exceptionality, and though the book definitely was, it didn't live up to the hype in my head. I still would definitely recommend it though!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, War, and Violence

milkylilia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.0

Stuff happens but it sure doesn't feel like it. Every character ultimately falls flat and no one stands out. Anyone remotely interesting is a brief side character whose existence feels like it's only serving Alina in the story (Genya, Baghra etc.) I get that they aren't the focus, the book would surely be better if they were, but no one feels real. I kinda just ended up hating everyone.

The worldbuilding and lore are starting off great, but the way its presented just isn't it. The story just doesn't have the cast to back it up. It feels hollow.

Also it was personally horribly triggering to me because (TW)

I see so much of my abuser and rapist in the Darkling.

. I don't understand how his behaviour isn't talked about more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, War, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault and Animal death

bookedbymadeline's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

So I read the Six of Crows duology first because I loved the Crows in the TV series. But I want to now read the King of Scars duology and was told that in order to fully understand the next 2 books, I must read the trilogy. Plus the show got cancelled and I need to know how it ends 😅

Very true to the Netflix show, which is maybe why I got so bored with the book because I knew what was coming! A little too much telling over showing especially in the middle when it’s less action packed. There was a lot of good world building without info dumping right away which I always appreciate!

Entertaining enough, the first third was good but by the halfway point I was ready to be done 😩

The last couple of chapters were good and back to action packed, it really slumped in the middle. Alina is the typical YA “chosen one” in that she constantly points out how she’s not pretty which got annoying.

I need to read book 2 soon simply because it is a library book otherwise I wouldn’t be in any rush to continue the series. Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom are waaay better and I’m hoping the King of Scars duology is better too 🤞🏻

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and War

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Animal death

Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent