Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Valour by John Gwynne

10 reviews

xta_07's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? No

4.75

Things I muttered to myself while reading the last few chapters of this book: What? On no! And of course: NoNoNONONonono!  

While both the beginning and the end of the book were very exciting and fun to read, I had trouble maintaining my momentum through the middle. What truly carried me through were the characters. They shine in this story; they all feel incredibly real. I really particularly enjoyed

Cywens journey, and her budding relationship with Vedaris and Alcyon. Even though she is their captive, they end up caring about each other.

I also really liked Camlin finding his place in the “crew” and learning the value of loyalty. There are a few one sided “bad guys” but most of the characters have nuance and depth, which is something I really appreciate.

John Gwynne has a knack for taking a tangled spider web of a plot and weaving it all together in a beautiful tear stained tapestry. I am both exited and scared to pick up book 3!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Blood, Violence, Death, and Gore

Moderate: Rape, Torture, and Confinement

russelmcq's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

To me, this series just continues to quicken the pace. Breakneck style, short chapters, action packed. While I can see how some may not love the "stop to smell the flowers" type of prose, I really enjoy this series for what it is.

A violent, emotional upheaval that grabs you and shakes you.

As a newer fantasy reader and having gone from Tolkien to this, I can appreciate both sides immensely.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, War, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Suicide attempt, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Death, Grief, Murder, Death of parent, and Gore

bebby92's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death of parent, Death, Gore, and Blood

kat1105's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Violence, Animal death, Confinement, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, War, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Murder, and Slavery

Moderate: Child abuse, Trafficking, Ableism, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexual content, Rape, and Sexual violence

darkefyres's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Blood, Death of parent, Death, and Slavery

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, War, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse

ocean_the_reader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I felt like I flew through this one. There was so much that happened but it was also a lot of traveling and planning. 
Theres just so much I've forgotten. I'm having a great time rereading and rediscovering

The friendships in this book are immaculate and I wish friendships like this were in more books. 

I'm really hoping Veradis either changes sides or helps Nathair realize what's going on. And I knew I was right to not trust the Vin Thalun.

The last 200 pages was such a rollercoaster and the ending made me sob.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, War, Grief, and Gore

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

jaedia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Violence, War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Death of parent, Blood, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Murder, and Slavery

Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Medical content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Rape

Minor: Torture, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Excrement, Fatphobia, Animal death, Alcohol, Vomit, and Body shaming

kylieqrada's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense 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

4.0

I am continuing to love this series!!! While I didn't adore this with the fiery passion that I did the first one, I still really enjoyed it. A few moments of fatphobia, bleh. But more character development for our strong female protagonists and some big reveals contributed to what's shaping up to be a potential new fave series. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia

seanml's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 This bomb of a series continues! 8/10.

Highlights: Cywen, Camlin, Alcyon, and Veradis. And to top them all off, the tale of Maquin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death of parent, and Torture

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Misogyny

markalpheus's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Death

Moderate: Rape