Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

41 reviews

ladygetslit's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

There's a lot I could say about this book that wouldn't make sense if you haven't read the rest of the Grishaverse, so I'm going to keep this review short and simple. 

The King of Scars duology is about confronting our darkness, our demons. Every major character has to come to terms with the worst parts of themselves, but at some point that darkness is actually what saves them and others they care about.

Nikolai is terrified of everyone discovering that (a) he's a bastard aka not a "true" king and (b) he's got this whole demon thing inside him. What he discovers is that he has to make himself vulnerable, allow everyone to see his dark side, in order to save everyone he cares about and protect his country.

This is such a powerful metaphor for something I've been thinking about a lot lately: sometimes the scariest, most broken parts of us are exactly what people need to see to come to terms with their own messy parts. 

I docked this book half a star because I'm honestly a little dissatisfied with the ending.

Bardugo spent three books really building up the villainous nature of the Darkling, and I honestly didn't want him to come back at all, but I definitely didn't want him to get a redemption arc.

Overall, this duology was such a satisfying end to the world that started with Shadow and Bone. I truly hope Bardugo eventually revisits this world in the future! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, War, Misogyny, Drug use, Sexism, and Death

Moderate: Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture

Minor: Sexual assault

madisonstarkov's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Kidnapping, Confinement, Drug abuse, and War

Moderate: Ableism, Violence, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Blood, Death, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Dysphoria

justinekorson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.5

Is... is there going to be another book after this. The ending made me think so but It's been a few year since this novel was published.

Either way, I was very surprised by the contents. The way Zoya became Queen was not in the way I suspected. I was also under the impression I think from a tiktok that Zoya had given up her grisha powers to be with Nikolai. I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT WASN'T THE CASE AND SHE'S NOT JUST MERELY HUMAN. I was so pissed when I found that out but I'm glad it's not what actually happened in the story. 

It was also SO FUN to see the Crows in this novel that I nearly cried every time one of them was on page. I really do think the Six of Crows Duology is Leigh's best work. 

I still HATE how the Darkling was brought back for these novels and how Zoya, at the end, wanted to find a way to release him from his prison like... come on girl, forgive and forget NOT FORGIVE AND RELEASE HIM. After everything that mans has done, he didn't deserve even the tiniest bit of redemption he received from willingly going into the thornwood. He literally said he regretted none of his actions... I agree that Yuri the priest does need a bit of saving but... the Darkling does not. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, Miscarriage, and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Classism, Body shaming, Blood, Racism, Sexism, Trafficking, and Body horror

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

abitbetterbooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Sexism, Murder, Physical abuse, and Death

Moderate: Addiction and Medical trauma

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Slavery, Child death, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

aliyachaudhry's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, War, Misogyny, Torture, Addiction, Blood, Death, Racism, Drug use, Xenophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Gun violence, Gore, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Body horror, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape and Miscarriage

Minor: Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault

serendipity421's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Death, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, War, Blood, Colonisation, and Violence

sxndaze's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.0

It’s rare that I enjoy sequels more, but Leigh Bardugo really delivers. It was interesting to explore Fjerda and Shu Han more and understand the political conflicts of this universe. I loved getting to revisit old characters and see where they are now. It’s a wonderful way to wrap up the grishaverse while also leaving it open for a potential future. Nothing beats the SOC duology, but it was fun and enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Addiction, Torture, and War

bororyales's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and War

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexual assault and Physical abuse

jessicaludden's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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? Yes

3.0

“She would forever be a bloodthirsty, furious girl, but she might allow herself to be something else too.”

I really wanted to like this series more. It just felt unnecessary. It was trying to do a lot and ended up doing nothing. I like these characters enough, but I feel like we barely got to see them even in a 500+ page book. This book was very focused on the war and the Grishaverse in general and kind of overlooked it’s own characters. The only times I found myself getting excited were when the Crows were in the picture. Overall, I loved seeing these characters again but this series didn’t really do much for me.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Drug use, Murder, Miscarriage, War, Misogyny, Death, Blood, Physical abuse, and Sexism

lis4so's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-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? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Body horror, and Classism