Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

162 reviews

upbeatbubble's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I really prefer my books to

have happier endings

and felt like this one was just

one long tragedy with very little happiness for any of the characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Grief, Classism

Moderate: Rape, Torture, Vomit, Cannibalism

panfriedcracker's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Feels like the spiritual successor to Octavia E. Butlers vivid and brutal storytelling style! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Grief

Minor: Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture

xlipkins's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content

Minor: Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Stalking

pamelasoto's review against another edition

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I wasn't able to really get into the story. The pacing was too slow for me and the characters were not interesting enough to get me hooked. Where I stopped, the story was just about to maybe get interesting but the writing style and different plot lines just weren't really my style. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Torture

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Violence

mrgriffit's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional 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

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Truly a masterpiece of a book. We love a book that plays with format and time in such an interwoven way. Everything is this book so cleanly builds upon itself and the narrative parallels between the beginning and end of the book are just *chef’s kiss*. The world feels so full and terrible and interesting in these pages and I cannot wait to see where the story goes; for as excellent as this book is, it is very much a prologue for the true story to come.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Transphobia, Vomit

ialoneblue's review against another edition

4.0

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I went into this book knowing very little about it and I have to say that it's probably one of the most unique concepts I've ever read and so far, well executed. The world, the characters, the abilities and the lore/history was so intricate, well written and thought out. I enjoyed the different povs and each unique look into different parts of the world and the development.  

For me, the beginning was a little hard to connect to right away and for most of the book I wasn't completely sure I understood how everything worked. That may be on me but I did feel like there's so much to this world and the information we were given was a lot to take in and keep up with.

I do think it was really clever to have the 3 povs but of the same character at different points of her life. I did suspect Damaya was Syen and i think after that, it made sense for Syen to be Essun. I really enjoyed all three and i think Damaya was my favorite.

It did make some things predictable, maybe not in full details but at least give an idea of what to expect. But definitely excited to continue the series. 

(There are darker elements in the story that is mentioned and/or implied so check tw)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Slavery

Minor: Mental illness, Torture, Cannibalism, Pregnancy

brainrain's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective 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: Complicated

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Liked it a lot on my first read, though it was somewhat difficult. Loved it on the second read and found it much easier. Would recommend broadly! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Classism

duirra's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 30%

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As a parent of young children, the regular graphic scenes of children being murdered, abused, or tortured were too much to bear.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Rape

laurenmiller100's review against another edition

4.75

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Amazing. While absolutely devastating in many ways, Jemisen’s world building continues to be top tier. Her magic system is innovative and well-planned. I’ve read the Inheritance Cycle which I Loved. This is just as good although packs a serious emotional wallop. Definitely check the trigger warnings. I’m gonna give myself a second before reading the next one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Grief

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Pedophilia, Cannibalism

kianaelk's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Colonisation