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resham's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
I usually don’t like the sequels as much as I do the first book but that is not the case with this book!!
Torch against the night picks up after Laia and Elias left Blackcliff and are heading to Kauf to break Darin out. Things of course happen along the way that I will not spoil.
I loved so many things about this book, I’m not even sure where to start! We finally have Helene’s point of view and now I love her even more! This book broke my heart for more reasons than I can list but I still loved this book and will take it with me wherever I go.
And I’m not sure if I’m happy or mad that my instincts were right about Keenan. I was annoyed at who Laia became around him because of his manipulation but the way she came back to herself nearing the end and changed her own perception of herself, I absolutely loved it!
I also love the fact that this series doesn’t necessarily have a “chosen one”. It’s more about whatever decisions all characters make individually and the consequences of them rather than this one person saving the world.
Torch against the night picks up after Laia and Elias left Blackcliff and are heading to Kauf to break Darin out. Things of course happen along the way that I will not spoil.
I loved so many things about this book, I’m not even sure where to start! We finally have Helene’s point of view and now I love her even more! This book broke my heart for more reasons than I can list but I still loved this book and will take it with me wherever I go.
And I’m not sure if I’m happy or mad that my instincts were right about Keenan. I was annoyed at who Laia became around him because of his manipulation but the way she came back to herself nearing the end and changed her own perception of herself, I absolutely loved it!
I also love the fact that this series doesn’t necessarily have a “chosen one”. It’s more about whatever decisions all characters make individually and the consequences of them rather than this one person saving the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse and Death of parent
nefari_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
_booklover_16's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
alingtori's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
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? No
4.75
Oh wow, once I started this book, I cannot put it down. Just like the first book--or maybe even better--the pacing is just right. It was action packed, with each scenes gripping me at the edge of my seat. There's so many things happening at once, and I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Instead of a map of Kauf, I would've liked it better if we were given a map of the land that they're traversing because at some point, it was getting harder for me to visualize the terrain, especially with the different characters being different places.
What didn't make sense for me that much was for all the hyping up how awful the Warden was, he wasn't that much. He was characterized as sly, all knowing creature (knowing what Elias feels with just a look) but he was easily outwitted by Laia, the children, and other Scholar prisoners.
The Nightbringer still confuses me. Also, how did Marcus know about the Commandant? Is Marcus also aware of the Nightbringer?
What didn't make sense for me that much was for all the hyping up how awful the Warden was, he wasn't that much. He was characterized as sly, all knowing creature (knowing what Elias feels with just a look) but he was easily outwitted by Laia, the children, and other Scholar prisoners.
The Nightbringer still confuses me. Also, how did Marcus know about the Commandant? Is Marcus also aware of the Nightbringer?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content
ohkmurr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
If I thought the stakes in An Ember in the Ashes were high, A Torch Against the Night skyrocketed them. From the very start, we have a classic countdown disease—a trope I love, which can also be difficult to pull off in a way that doesn't feel like a gimmick.
The story is absolutely incredible, and I did not see quite a few of the plot twists coming. I will forever be amazed at Tahir's world-building and storytelling ability.
I'm also a bit embarrassed by how long it took me to realize that this story is basically World War II: a woman hell-bent on eradicating an entire race of people, a warden who performs experiments on people at a prison that all but guarantees a slow and painful death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
Again, the violence/body horror is "Game of Thrones Lite," and similar to the violence described in Grady Hendrix's works/Stephen King's works.bishopindi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
bookinitwithahtiya's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.25
Re-Read (2022): Welp. I forgot just how absolutely heartbreaking this book is.
First Read: I am so upset with myself that it took me this long to read A Torch Against The Night. This book is dark, gut-wrenching, and artfully woven together. There are twists and turns in here that you will not see coming, and the ending is a great set up for A Reaper at the Gates.
First Read: I am so upset with myself that it took me this long to read A Torch Against The Night. This book is dark, gut-wrenching, and artfully woven together. There are twists and turns in here that you will not see coming, and the ending is a great set up for A Reaper at the Gates.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Death of parent