Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

11 reviews

snowie0_0's review against another edition

dark tense

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

3.5

I struggled with this book. I haven't read the series that came before and while this is described as standalone, I'm clearly missing a ton of information, backstory, and context. The author kept name-dropping characters and plotlines that were clearly important with no explanation because readers from the previous series wouldn't need an explanation. Which would be fine but this was sold to me as a standalone series. 

That said, once I got about halfway through the audiobook, I was engaged and following along. I called the plot twist about a third of the way in but it was still satisfying to see I was right. 

I'm not sure if I'll listen to the sequel or not. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy

karambit's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Infertility and Alcohol

noellegrace8's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

5.0

Unlike some Folk of the Air lovers who were disappointed in the lack of Cardan & Jude or a similar relationship dynamic, I was blown away by Black's ability to formulate a completely captivating story with far less use of such a dramatic love duo. I personally think Oak and Suren are a lovely duo, albeit less romantically present in their story than Jude & Cardan were in theirs. I actually think it's much harder to write a great story without the easier elements such as romance/sex & violence, so this book was next level in my opinion. I found myself hurting for Suren so many times to the point that I actually teared up, loving her adherance to kindness, and pleasantly surprised by plot elements. And the casual drops/updates about Jurdan and their reign? Love that. I just love Elfhame so much. I hope Holly Black keeps writing about it.

I give Saskia Maarleveld 5/5⭐️. Her narration was great, with distinction between characters and what I thought was a wonderful depiction of Suren's character through cadence & voice choices. Additionally, unlike many women narrators, I didn't find her male vocal imitation to be cheesy or too much. It did kind of bug me that she said soo-ren instead of ser-ren though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

daenerystargaryen's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Infertility, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

callidoralblack's review against another edition

adventurous emotional

• Loveable characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism

friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

_alyssar_'s review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Infertility, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

lexnicole's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Blood, and Abandonment

anastashamarie's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

⚠️ Warning: this one has a lot of childhood trauma in it. 

❄️ As a character study of Wren and her trauma, this is A+. As an adventure odyssey, it's enjoyable. As a romantic fantasy, I kind of wanted more. 

🏰 I wish the romance burned a little slower. I LOVE friends-to-lovers, but I don't think it had the chemistry I was seeking. There was also a surprising about of plot armor, and at times, it felt like the book was rushed, not in terms of pacing (pacing was actually pretty good) but in terms of publication? Like it wasn't as polished as a lot of Holly Black's other plotlines. 

🗡️ BUT I love grown-up Oak's arrogance. I double loved the exploration of Wren's trauma and character. I loved getting to see Elfhame again. And, yeah, okay, even for my complaints, I will be anxiously awaiting the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Infertility, and Suicidal thoughts

nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail