Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

Valiant by Holly Black

12 reviews

michaelat21's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

1.5

This book was not what I would consider ya. It was filled with drugs, addiction, abuse, animal cruelty. I couldn’t relate to the main character at all and found myself upset for most of the book. I only liked one character the whole book. I am hopeful the third book is better. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Medical trauma, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

kristinrdub's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

5.0

What could be better than faerie drugs and monster boyfriend? Holly Black makes these tales just dark enough to make you reconsider ever wanting to see a fae and also makes you hope you still will. A runaway girl becomes a reluctant troll errand girl with a side hustle of murder solving.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Drug use, Vomit, and Violence

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

amypalmer's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

My rating would be a 2.5
This book wasn't awful and was a quick fairly easy read however most of its pages are about graphic drug using and abusing, a very slow start and an abrupt end. There is also some animal cruelty that I didn't like at all. Similarly to tithe the mother figure is problematic to say the least. 

In this book I like the character Ravus and found Val likeable when they are together, Luis also is ok nearer the end. Who is the audience of this book, it is not suitable for teens as the themes are too dark however there is no depth for adult readers. Not enough fantasy and world building. 

Although the main characters are different this is a sequel to Tithe, however you only notice this in the last 50 pages or so.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

sienna727's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

0.25

The only reason someone should ever pick up this book is to use it as kindling.


This is NOT a YA book and the story and characters are incredibly messed up. 

0/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault

sassper17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

willgilmore_87's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

eloisenicolina's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Addiction

Moderate: Sexual assault

directorpurry's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death

Moderate: Confinement, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

ad3l's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Animal death, and Drug abuse

Minor: Sexual harassment

evaef's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

2.75

sooo i was a little surprised when i started the book and i didn’t know any of the characters, I really thought we’d continue to follow Kaye and Roiben (my bad for not reading the synopsis). I also didn’t think the book was going to address topics as heavy as drug addiction in such detail and that one scene of animal cruelty……. yea, I’d encourage to see trigger warnings before reading.

About the story itself, i did enjoyed it, i liked the murder mystery aspect but it took sooo long for the story to pick up, and it was overall a bit slow.

When Ravus was introduced i imagined him more as a father figure so it was a bit weird when he turned out to be Val’s love interest, but that’s on me. After that i did enjoyed their romance and the ending lines really got me:
“I would remain nearer you for what time there is.” “Gone in one faerie sigh” “I can hold my breath”.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse