Reviews tagging 'Violence'

El Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

58 reviews

sarahsbooklife's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.5

Honestly, I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this book. I knew very little, just that it was set in late 16th century Spain and a woman could do magic. And I'm glad that I didn't have any expectations going into this book.
It has a bit of a slow start. When I was reading it, it felt like it took longer than it actually did for characters to be introduced and for the plot to actually start. The overall pacing of the book is pretty slow. Maybe that's because I never felt like there were particularly highstakes for the characters. I was pretty sure that the main couple would get a happy ending even if no one else did. Although, towards the end I did begin to doubt that. 
I wouldn't say that this book was amazing. It was good and I enjoyed reading it. But it's not one that I would recommend to everyone.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Antisemitism, Blood, Classism, Physical abuse, Confinement, Islamophobia, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Death, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Excrement, Slavery, Suicide, Vomit, and War

kristinallard's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Death, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Torture, and Forced institutionalization

thebooknook180's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

4.25

I love the characters and world building. The magic was interesting and there was enough of a mystery and draw between the characters ever changing relationships to keep you turning the page. I did find the plot (especially with all of the characters) a bit hard to follow at times. Although we knew a decent amount about each character, I still found myself having to intently think about and remind myself who was in the scene and what relationships they help to one another. This started to impede my reading experience after a bit of it continually seeming to happen. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Violence

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Death of parent

turtles555's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

The individual stories of the very unique journeys the leads embark on brings brilliantly to life the disturbing presence of patriarchal societies. Top notch. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Sexism, Violence, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Bullying, Racism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Grief, Classism, Child abuse, and Police brutality

vagrantheather's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

Had trouble getting into this one. Picked up in the second half.

It feels a little wrong to me that the MC never acknowledges her religious background, even when she is on the verge of execution. Seems like a thread left untied. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Police brutality, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Violence, Torture, and Sexism

Minor: Misogyny, Infertility, and Murder

daryn's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Antisemitism

taryn_g's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, and Torture

Moderate: Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Confinement, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, War, and Infertility

ewalkergrace's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Torture, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Vomit and Sexual assault

lucyford's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was the first historical fantasy book I’ve read, and I loved the setting so much! The magic was so well thought and it was interesting to see how it was perceived by people at the time. The plot was also very exciting.

The only thing is that I really didn’t like the ending. Like I know they were “together” in the end or whatever, but not in the way I would’ve liked.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Hate crime, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Death, Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Sexual content, Deportation, Police brutality, Infertility, and Emotional abuse

dripdrop's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent