Reviews tagging 'Murder'

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

246 reviews

witcheep's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Violence, Sexual content, Grief, and Misogyny

Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, and Kidnapping

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse

picaresquedreamer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Grief, and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Abandonment, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, War, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent

saintxkathryn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-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

5.0

Nesta‘s story was a compassionate reminder of my own journey in processing and learning to live after many years of trauma and grief. Some of the biggest themes revolved around learning to forgive yourself and learning that many of the things you might blame yourself for, were not your fault in the first place (in a context of surviving trauma and/or abuse). I took comfort in noticing the parallels between Nesta’s and her friends’ healing journeys and my own. This book was actually pretty cathartic for me. Of course, the fantastical elements of the novel were highly entertaining and kept me reading. Maas‘ talent for vivid descriptions and detailed world building make it hard to put this book down. I look forward to her coming works. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Body horror, Classism, Misogyny, Child death, Confinement, and Addiction

Minor: Kidnapping

kaylamullarkey's review against another edition

3.5

This book is just vibes and comedy

(like why was Cassian taking Nesta, who was ready to dive off a cliff, on a week-long trek up a mountain and not checking on her for hours at a time??)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Death of parent

caitlinspeachyreads's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Classism, Self harm, Pregnancy, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Rape, Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death, Sexism, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Child death, Murder, Confinement, Cursing, Gaslighting, Body horror, Grief, Sexual harassment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Death, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Child abuse, Gore, Death of parent, and Rape

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Rape, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Infertility, and Medical trauma

holz_18's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

booknerdcoco's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

4.5

This book covers so many issues that are relatable to female life. Dealing with grief, low self-worth and self-loathing, misogyny, overcoming adversity both real and perceived... the list goes on. 

Though Nesta comes off as a despicable person in the previous books, you really get the chance to see first hand and to walk her journey alongside her.

Even though it is a long read. I felt every scene relevant to the plot and provided valuable insigh  into the characters' innermost thoughts and rationale for their actions.

I also, I thought Rhys was an ideal book boyfriend, but Cassian and his dirty mouth had swooped in with that impressive wingspan and taken the top spot.

Plot: 4.5/5
Spice: 3.5/5
Book boyfriend: 6/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Misogyny

Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Sexism

Minor: Murder, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

luminescify's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I started this book last year in August and it took me an eon to get through. The pacing was really slow - as is expected of an SJM book - until the last 200 pages or so. 

Nesta's character development is the primary focus of this book which was awesome, I don't hate her anymore, however I feel that a solid 90% of this book was filler, and the same mundane shit over and over and over again.

That being said, I enjoyed the sibling relationships and watching Nesta allow herself to heal and receive love despite believing that she deserves it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Bullying, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Rape, Death of parent, and Murder

annabananadel's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.0

 “Nothing can break me.” 

Okay. This was definitely a Nesta redemption book. When I first read ACOTAR, I really hated this girl who let her youngest sister venture into the woods while she doesn't even want to chop woods for her family to stay warm. Then hated her more throughout the story - what with the war going on and her still being a stubborn mess. Especially with how she treated Cassian in ACOFAS (good thing he's such a pup). But after reading this book though, it somewhat changed. I wanted to see how she'd redeem herself because she really was a mess and everyone knows. People kept reaching out their hands to help her but she's so stubborn and wants to grief in her own ways that she kept ignoring those hands; worse, she assumed those stretched hands were her being mocked. The audacity. Her character is really something you'd have to get used to. 

Okay. The smut. Can we talk about this? I walked into this book knowing that there would be a lot more smut compared to the other books. What I failed to know was that it would definitely be all over the story. I love my books having smut - all my friends know that. But if the story is progressing so good and I'm hooked, I really want to know what f would be happening soon. It just so happens that whenever something unexpected is happening or when I'm by the edge of my seat, smutty scenes happen. I just want to know what happens, bruh. Anyways, that's a first for me. I love my smut but I love my plot more apparently.

Story-wise, it was so good for me. We get to know backstories of Ramiel, Illyrians, the cauldron and the trove. We get to see Nesta having use of her powers, which wasn't really fully utilized in the previous books or to be honest, in this book too. We got to see Nesta making friends outside the Inner Circle, which she definitely needed. We got to know the antagonist of the story, post-war. We saw the Rites...and was even part of it as we were rooting for Nesta, Emerie and Gwyn to win. 

It's just that, the ending was a bit....anti-climatic for me. It was building up that Briallyn would be this mortal-Made queen who's out to seek for revenge after Nesta took something from the cauldron and in turn, made Briallyn old looking. So I thought she'd have a really thought out plan on how to have her revenge but nah bruh, it was poorly executed and well, not much drama for me. Anyways, it was that and just don't want to think about it anymore. I love how Nesta sacrificed her powers though, to save Feyre (and Rhys and Nyx). So that's really the redeeming arc of her.

Overall, I'm finally updated this series and am currently waiting for the queen, SJM, to release the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Death, and War

Moderate: Death of parent

barbarianmissy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny tense medium-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

4.25

Honestly I had a fun time. This was definitely the spiciest SJM book I have read THUS FAR, but I kind of missed Feyre and Rhys, not gonna lie. However, it was exciting dipping my toes into a new ACOTAR storyline. The third person writing took a while to get used to but I ended up adjusting to it and liking the shifting perspectives. 

Although, I must admit that Nesta is a nasty wee thing and it took me a while to appreciate her character as she was QUITE A BRAT for the first part, but I like that she’s very imperfect and recognizes her flaws and is trying to do better. Cassian on the other hand is a golden retriever and everytime she’s mean to him I wanna stomp my foot in protest cause HE DOES NOT DESERVE IT! Although the line “stop being so mean to me or I’m gonna fall in love with you” is 100% him. BUT STILL! BE NICER, NES!

I really enjoyed the Valkyrie storyline and I’m excited to see more of Gwyn and Emerie moving forward. Reclaiming their power after the patriarchy was a real bitch to them is quite awesome and I love that they’re girlbossing so hard. This book made me want to exercise so I could potentially eventually kick someone’s ass (am I going to? Probably not. But I thought about it!) 

🚨HOT TAKE ALERT 🚨

I know everyone likes the idea of Elain and Az BUT I think they’re both too quiet for it to be interesting. I honestly think I’d like to see the awkwardness that is her and Lucien’s mating bond unfurl AND I think I like the idea of Az with Gwyn better! Cause Gwyn is hella cool and they already have banter and mutual respect for each other. I DUNNO ITS JUST MY HOT TAKE!!!! 🤷‍♀️

Hoping SJM comes out with another ACOTAR book soon so I can hang out with all of my imaginary friends again, but until then - CRESCENT CITY YOU’RE UP NEXT!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexism, Body horror, Alcohol, Child death, Blood, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Grief, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Gore, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Violence