Reviews tagging 'War'

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

32 reviews

willow1113's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma

hardbackednooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

This was a really great read, with the exception of about 20-25% of the book. I blitzed through the first 65%ish, then everything came to a screeching halt for the next 20%. The last portion of the book moved pretty quickly, comparatively, though it also got to be much easier to predict at that point.

With the first-person past tense narrative and occasional breaking of the fourth wall, it was hard to feel any tension about Phedre's fate, but my heart was in my throat any time one of the other characters was threatened or involved in some machination. There are some truly shocking parts of this story and I found my jaw hanging open on more than one occasion. 

If you're one for worldbuilding, politicking, and fantasy religions, this might be the perfect fit for you. The layers and maneuvers playing out throughout the world are endless and fascinating; even with all the info now that I'm done, there were still things that surprised me when I was able to piece it all together. Overall, this could've been a 5-star read with more editing towards the middle/later third, but still very deserving of a read. I'll be continuing the series once my hold comes in.

All that being said, this is a very intense book. Definitely NSFW and 18+, and absolutely do not read if you are triggered by pain, abuse, or assault of any kind.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Rape, and Sexual assault

alexalily's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Slavery, War, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Gore

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Confinement, Grief, Animal death, and Pregnancy

hippievamp's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, War, Rape, Slavery, and Sexual content

Moderate: Pedophilia, Death, Misogyny, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship

keishbby's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Animal death, War, Torture, Rape, Death, Violence, Grief, and Blood

jagrove's review

adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and War

spiderelsa's review against another edition

5.0

Oh wow, I didn't know what I was getting into with this book, and it's been a real journey. Engaging all the way through. Sometimes stressful, sometimes beautiful, sometimes harrowing. With love woven throughout. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking, and War

duckie84's review

adventurous inspiring

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Sexual violence

nofys's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Death, Slavery, Sexual violence, War, Torture, Violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Rape

mlweih's review

adventurous dark 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Murder, Racism, Torture, Violence, and War