Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

28 reviews

cedartonk's review

adventurous funny inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder

lifa's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.25

This is a book I don't think I would have normally read or continued after the first few pages. The prose and world-building are very weak and the main thing that made me knock off stars. But it was exactly what I needed to read, something simple and straightforward that reminded me of easier days. I very much liked Katsa and Po's relationship and the freedom they value. The plot was good too especially by the end and the ending wrapped things up nicely. This book just came at the right time for me and I'm grateful for it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture and Child abuse

Minor: Animal cruelty

beebeewin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

Upon re-reading I enjoyed this book as much as a remember! I appreciate Kristin Cashore's ability to write an engaging world with well fleshed out characters, especially in regards to Katsa. She creates morally complex characters with ease, and for a teen book doesn't shy away from having characters with motivations and dreams that might be different than in classical YA fiction. There is no pulled punches, which makes for a YA read that, at the time I first read it and even now, doesn't feel like someone dumbing down difficult topics for teens. My only issue is the main conflict seemed to resolve so quickly, like within one chapter. I almost wish that was just drawn out a little longer so that we could really see Katsa's growth and character development fleshed out more. Regardless, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, interesting, and engaging fantasy read. 

Also 100% Raffin and Bann are gay and you can't convince me otherwise, make it cannon!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Blood and Torture

kell_xavi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

4.0

Well-told for the most part, with believable relationships, challenges, and emotions; however, some emotional events carry on a bit long, becoming repetitive and overwrought. I wasn’t convinced of how the plot comes together around the climax, finding too many threads dragged out only to collapse in a surprising moment. Still, Cashore’s girl-driven fantasy novel is mostly successful, smart and sincere, tinged with fear and a good dose of comeuppance to powerful men who do wrong.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Torture, Pedophilia, Murder, and Violence

gillian_aftanas's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Misogyny, Violence, Confinement, Death, Murder, Pedophilia, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Sexual content

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Incest, Kidnapping, Blood, Emotional abuse, Rape, Torture, and Vomit

Minor: Child death and Abortion

tigrelilje's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content, Torture, Murder, Child death, Animal death, Child abuse, and Animal cruelty

alexandrabelze's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious sad medium-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

3.25

i absolutely loved the pacing of this book. everything flowed perfectly together and i was never left feeling like things were moving too quickly or like we had hit a wall. cashore’s writing style is so unique, but i came to love it while reading. it fits katsa’s character so well! katsa and po’s relationship had me HOOKED mawma. i was also living for katsa and bitterblue’s (<3<3) relationship. so excited to read the rest of the series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Confinement and Emotional abuse

Minor: Kidnapping, Torture, and Sexual content

imds's review

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Torture, Vomit, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Death, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, Violence, Animal death, Blood, and Body horror

Minor: Child death

caseymac's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Low fantasy, romance

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Torture, Child death, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

ottersilver's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

Know this is a first in a series which go very different directions than you’d expect. Don’t read the third book’s preview chapter, as I think it has a spoiler In it. This book has inspired me in ways I didn’t think of.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit, Murder, and Torture

Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Confinement

lots of violent fights between MCs with details