Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

50 reviews

aysha_blake's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War

chronicacademia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury

northern_wind's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Blood, Grief, and Murder

bethy_joy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and War

Minor: Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

maregred's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

vr_alyssa's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.25

I am really glad she wrote it from Wren's perspective, rather than Oak. I like where its going - I like that its further developing the world in which its set. But I also thought it was slow.

The only character development is near the end when she's completely fed up with Oak's bullshit, and that' s more a mood than a development, really.

At times it felt more like a novella-like in between story.

 I definitely have to re-read The Cruel Prince series before the sequel comes out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping

nojgli's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This book ate me, chew me up and threw me up so that it can start again.

It's been a hot minute since I've read anything with such raw emotions, all while accompanying a handful of characters with their own complex personalities, backgrounds and feelings. Since it's a pov book, you're given many clues to figure out the twists except they are always worse than you'd think.

I advise people to check TWs because child abuse is basically the core of the story, but if that does not trigger you or you're ready to face it Holly uses language that will both rip you apart with with rawness and make you feel seen.


Also Holly of you're reading this, we got the memo with the hooves , for me personally I think you overdid it. And they are not sexy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, 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

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

ellahoward_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-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

3.5

3.5* - I wish I had reread the cruel Prince series before this as the interlinking story lines became a little confusing as it had been so long ago since I had read the fist books. Overall, I still think this was a really good book and great addition to the series. Looking forward to the second book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Kidnapping