Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

6 reviews

atlantiareads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Alcohol, War, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Blood, Abandonment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Gore, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, and Physical abuse

downsophialane's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

5.0

A Court of Silver Flames is outstanding, but it is not for the faint-hearted. My girl Nesta goes through it. There are parts of her journey to healing that are hard to read, and this novel is long, but it's absolutely worth it.
 
This summer is my reintroduction to speculative fiction after a long time away so I'm not fantasy expert; thus, I'll leave the critique of the fantasy worldbuilding to other reviewers. My expert area is romance though, and the development of Nesta and Cassien's relationship is something special. This book is notably sexier than previous SJM books, but I would argue that the explicit scenes here are doing what they need to, to serve the emotional arc (which is what sex scenes in romance novels are supposed to do). Cassian is also a god among men in the ranks of romance heroes. He is fully devoted to Nesta despite her tendency to lash out at him, but he doesn't veer into creepy "persistent" territory where harrassment is treated as romantic.

Truly, I would go to war for Nesta. She is what may be called an "unlikeable heroine", but that label feels reductive when the reason is so clear and deliberate... She isn't unlikeable, she has debilitating trauma and self-hatred. She is surrounded by people who are not able or willing to give her the grace of being depressed, compounded by her lashing out at anyone attempting to reach her. I felt the conflict between Nesta, Feyre and Rhysand was so well-done: no one is blameless but everyone's perspectives are understandable. 

SJM's unabashed appropriation of romancelandia chat, Nesta's friendly house that reads romance novels, and the Valkyries' training also affords some much need levity. This book is as much a celebration of female friendship as it is a soarching romance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, Murder, Death, Blood, Mental illness, Death of parent, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Moderate: Miscarriage, Body horror, War, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child death, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

There are some outstanding visual moments in this book - her first time with the silver flames after her nightmare was memorable, and I won't forget the horrific description of the Kelpy in a while. I also squalked aloud when she was turned on by Cass and Az sparring and imagining a threesome... Thank you SJM, I need that levity in your PTSD book!

tytoavalon's review against another edition

3.0

Entertaining but corny as hell. I constantly felt like I was being hit over the head with "girl power!" and "the magic of love and friendship!" I don't mind these themes, but the execution was just so blunt, heavy-handed, and over-explained. 

P.s. Sarah J. Maas PLEASE do not come at me with the word "suckle" in an erotic context 🤢

P.p.s. couldn't Feyre have shape-shifted during the birth considering they were both about to die anyway??? And was abortion never considered once they found out the risk to Feyre's body? (Not that they were even planning to tell her about the risk so she didn't actually have the opportunity to make that choice)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Rape, and Sexual assault

islanderbookbabe's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

palekayle's review

adventurous dark 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

3.5

good exploration into the depths of self-loathing

ending felt rushed. queen stuff felt tossed in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexism

kenzyereads's review

adventurous emotional funny tense slow-paced

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

4.0

second read: this is still probably the best book in the ACOTAR series but it’s not a five star

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, and Sexism

Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Torture, and Violence