Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Goldene Flammen by Leigh Bardugo

282 reviews

marayzex's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Violence, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Murder, Gun violence, Torture, Slavery, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Cursing and War

takarakei's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.5

This was a super quick read. Especially since I watched the first season of the tv show way back when it first came out, so that helped a lot with the worldbuilding, but I had enough distance to not remember a lot of detail.
Onward with my Grishaverse journey!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Blood, Classism, and Animal death

Minor: War

a mystical deer is hunted/killed

caitsreadingcorner's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.25

I was surprisingly underwhelmed by this book. Bardugo does a great job setting up the political and societal system that comprises the plot and the explanations about the different powers that characters possess is pretty seamlessly woven into the plot. However, I still found myself getting lost at times and referring back to the map and hierarchy. Kudos to her for creating such an expansive universe, with myriad of cultures and people but the Grishaverse definitely takes some getting used to. 

That isn’t why I struggled so much with this book but rather, the characters were the issue for me. I just did not care for Alina at all. She is strong willed in terms of having been through some very hard experiences but a lot of her thoughts were too meek, over modest and whiny. I don’t think she’s a very strong main character and she was extremely (and predictably naive) in thinking the Darkling was romantically interested in her though she is rather plain. I did respect some of the decisions she made in the book but her back and forth feelings towards Mal and uncertainty made her a bit emotionally unstable. She’s not a very grounded or certain individual. She grew on me slightly towards the end but I still wouldn’t consider her badass. Mal is likeable enough but still, I wasn’t much enthralled by him either.

The most well written character in the book is the Darkling. There is a cunning duality to him that makes him mysterious and intriguing. At times he makes you want to root for him and at others, you’re reminded just how powerful and deceitful he truly is. The other characters lack depth in comparison. Overall, decent read. I will continue the series but I don’t have high expectations. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Violence, and War

katasaurus's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual content

vnfhcxksiw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, War, Blood, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Animal death, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Confinement, Torture, Violence, War, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Blood, Colonisation, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Classism

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Toxic relationship, War, Body horror, Classism, and Alcohol

abby_can_read's review against another edition

adventurous medium-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

3.0

📱
I can see why this book was popular. I liked it. The worldbuilding and the lore were good. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Toxic relationship, War, and Blood

Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Rape

val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

3.0

I think I had a vague idea of how this would be and ended up being a different thing. People praise these books so much but for my taste this is too YA with a very foolish chosen one who made me feel a bit angry by the end so I was considering if I wanted to even continue with the trilogy... 

I never saw this thing the author wanted to do between Alina and The Darkling, it felt so stupid and forced and well she's clearly an hormonal teenager because girl I need you to use your BRAIN and realize how you don't know shit about him except for all those darks stories?? I'm sorry but insta love is not my thing, I need building in the relationship, I need for them to get to know each other. 

She had this crush on Mal for so long and when it is finally clear that he also has feelings for her it feels weird, as if she doesn't love him anymore (or more like she doesn't deserve him in my eyes) 

This started with what felt like a big and crazy world building, and I ended up disliking everything because I absolutely thought Alina was so freaking stupid by the end omggg she made me so mad! and if Mal died because of her I think I would've DNF the trilogy (although she still has a chance to kill him with her stupid decisions lol) 

So yeah maybe this will be just a 3 ⭐ 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Animal death

- Injury details: There’s so many injured from the attack of these creatures.

- Death: There’s so many deaths too because of these creatures and because of the Darkling.

- Violence: And so there’s violence clearly because of all of this.

- Animal Death: Someone kills a stag by the end of it.

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. 

---

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

---

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