Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

26 reviews

btorsi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

usually i don't like a book without romance at its core because i need it to cling to, but this book only had romance on the fringes and i adored it. this is the first book in a year and a half that has stirred the same interest in me that priory did. i thought i would never be able to replicate that. all the characters are so interesting, the writing is beautiful, and the masterful slow reveal of the answers to the readers questions is so good. i loved it and can't wait to read the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

noellelovesbooks's review against another edition

4.0

Content Warnings: Grief, loss, body horror, nightmares, murder, abuse, and mention of sexual assault.

The final prompt for the “Read Your Own Adventure” Tiktok readathon was to read a book that intimidated you…so I chose this one. There’s no real reason this book intimidates me but as it’s been on my shelf a bit and it is on the thick side…I figured it fit the parameters and dove in.

Having first heard about this book last year on Booktok I’ve been excited to read it for a while…especially since, although I’ve heard praise, I’ve never heard any specific details about the story so I had no idea what I was jumping into. I, luckily, follow fantastic Tiktok creators who are good about giving spoiler-free reviews or who warn before diving into any spoiler-like content. When someone gives away the entire story before you’ve had a chance to read it…it takes the joy out of discovering a book’s secrets on your own.

Like many of my favorite fantasies, we follow multiple [5 altogether] people around who seem to have no direct connection…and as the story unfolds further we see how close everything in fact is connected. The primary narrative is that of Lin, the Emperor’s daughter, as she attempts to prove to her father that she should be chosen to take the throne after him.

As we follow Lin we get to know more about the fascinating and complex system that is bone shard magic. We don’t get much in the way of world lore, though there are hints and little details, so I’m hoping we get more in book two to better understand how, and why, bone-shard magic exists.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and look forward to picking up book two to see what more we learn about bone-shard magic and the world it affects. If you’re looking for a fantasy novel with equal parts magic and mystery I recommend giving this book a look. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Grief, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexual assault

gayghostprince's review

adventurous mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Child death, Animal death, Death of parent, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: War, Blood, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Classism

Minor: Grief, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Trafficking

lucystolethesky's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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: Trafficking, Grief, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, and Trafficking

Minor: Violence, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Incest, and Grief

elizajaquays's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence

kaseybereading's review

adventurous mysterious 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: Body horror, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

iamsammie27's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, and Gore

Moderate: Trafficking, Kidnapping, Violence, Gaslighting, and Body horror

Minor: Racism, Emotional abuse, Death, and Child death

emilypete17's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

One of the most well-done adult high fantasies I've read in ages. Andrea Stewart has woven an incredibly rich and socially complex world, chock full of complicated, incredibly interesting characters. The magic system of this book was equal parts horrifying and compelling, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page(I mean this quite literally). The exploration of imperialism and class felt so grounded in our current reality, even in such a fantastical setting. Absolutely pumped to continue this series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Grief, and Physical abuse

Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

beehives's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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

While the pacing at the end was a bit rushed and disconnected, the book overall did a good job of balancing and bringing together its cast of characters. I particularly liked that some characters were given necessary room to grow and change while also recognizing that no one's goals perfectly aligned and no relationships were without strife.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Emotional abuse

lavendera_'s review

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Gore, Torture, Murder, and Death of parent

Moderate: Slavery, Trafficking, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, and Kidnapping