Reviews tagging 'Blood'

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas

150 reviews

tiffanysmith's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I’ve had trouble deciding if I like this series or not. ACOTAR has been my favorite by far. In this second installment of the Crescent City series, the characters don’t feel particularly fleshed out and the plot is unorganized and random, as is the typical style of SJM. It’s challenging to read, because the majority of the story lacks good development and I admittedly grew bored. In typical SJM heroine fashion, Bryce was always just doing her own thing and new plot points sprung from nowhere without proper foreshadowing. 

I also don’t enjoy the romance between Hunt and Bryce. Their relationship doesn’t feel genuine, as it’s more of a secondary subplot to the character development. Going into this series, I knew that it wasn’t as romantically based as ACOTAR, so I don’t mind that it’s not the main point of the story, but their relationship evolved so quickly and *surprise*

they’re mates

. I’ve grown weary of the amount of spice in this book because it was there just to be there. I found myself skipping sections of it because it became tiresome and not romantic or genuine.  

The series does have some interesting quality. I’m captivated by SJM’s world that she has constructed. I only wish that it was executed better. If this book had been editing down and had the plot properly foreshadowed and fleshed out, it would have been really interesting! Alas, SJM leaves us with killer cliffhangers in the final pages. I was genuinely thinking of not continuing this series, but the curious part of me needs to know what happens next. So, I suppose I will read the third book and experience the same cycle of emotions of being annoyed at the writing and then stunned by the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Gore, Blood, and War

Minor: Drug use, Torture, and Sexual harassment

kbowles24's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Murder, Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Gun violence

Moderate: Slavery, Racism, Police brutality, Blood, Alcohol, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Gore, Grief, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Confinement

anndreya's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Sexual content

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Slavery, Cursing, and Murder

Minor: Genocide, Torture, War, Infertility, Blood, Incest, and Sexual violence

ksilvio's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Genocide, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, Torture, War, Classism, and Gun violence

jessnotjen's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Death, Murder, War, Violence, Blood, Torture, Sexual content, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail

jeanettesreadingcorner's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Torture, Grief, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, War, Blood, Murder, Body shaming, Death, Colonisation, and Confinement

daniofthewood's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Cursing, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, War, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, Confinement, Death, and Misogyny

Minor: Suicide, Gun violence, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

summer_myers's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

I almost didn’t finish this book because it was taking me FOREVER to read it. I got kind of bored in the middle with all the running around trying to find the boy, and them deciding whether to partake in rebel activity or not. There wasn’t much action, to me, in the middle. The story kept rolling along, but I wanted to get the good stuff. Man am I glad I finished it because that ending was great! I loved the plot twists that was thrown at us towards the end. It has me wanting to jump into the third one to find what happens next.  
I gave 3.5 stars because it didn’t have me hooked the entirety of the book like I had hoped, but I still loved the story and the characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

barbarianmissy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Hoooooooly shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit….. that last chapter….. whoa man…… just…… whoa…. I was not expecting that! I’m so hyped for book 3! 

This book was a rollercoaster start to finish. I loved seeing everyone’s personalities truly unfold and the relationships build. I really loved the scooby gang camaraderie between all the main group. 

Also, SJM seriously knows how to turn out a PLOT TWIST! I gasped “WHAT?!?” In happiness, anger, surprise, and disgust multiple times! 

Although, I was quite pleased with myself that I was able to figure out a big twist in who Day was pretty early on! 

A few new favs worth honourable mention:

- I will always and forever be obsessed with fire sprites, they’re my girlies. The triplets have taken my whole heart. 
-Ithan, you sweet little man, you. I hope you and no-name-dunk-tank-alpha-mystic-wolf-lady are mates, I’d love that for you. 
-Baxian, don’t die even though I feel like you will. I want you to find happiness again pls. Don’t make the next book a puppy snuff book, SJM (I’m aware it’s already written, but I’m manifesting)

I want to put Cormac on my list but I honestly never took to him. He was meh. Tamlin vibes are never good vibes. Glad he took about Pippi Longstocking though, she was a BEEEEYOTCH! 

Side note: Danika was not a good friend??? Like Bryce didn’t even know her in the least bit. She didn’t even share that she had a friggin mate with Bryce in idle girl talk???? Like???? I feel bad for Bryce who literally told her absolutely everything, her deepest, darkest secrets, and loved her so much and she pretty much got a hollow party girl stranger who didn’t trust her in return. 

IN CONCLUSION! I can’t wait for book 3!!! I can’t believe all of my old imaginary friends may be becoming friends with my new imaginary friends. We should all have a sleepover! 
🕺💃

Anywho! HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW IM COMING FOR YOU! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Animal death, Violence, War, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Torture

picaresquedreamer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death, Confinement, Murder, Classism, Colonisation, Sexual content, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Grief, Drug use, War, and Gaslighting

Minor: Child abuse