Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

73 reviews

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

seastheday'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? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed this first book in the duology spin off series. Although It was not as good as the Cruel Prince, it definitely a great read. And it kept world-building in a gentle way that was easily built into the characters interactions as well as the plot. I saw a review that said there was a character assassination. I do not find this to be true. If you paid attention at all, every clue was there right from the beginning. So, I will no longer be taking book rec’s from someone that literally cannot pay attention to foreshadowing. 
      Anyways, this is worth the read. I’m excited for the next one! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Death

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

Minor: Vomit and Death of parent

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

letiross's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Death, Torture, and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and War

saretta02's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Abandonment

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

dramagirl2003'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

sadly i didn’t enjoy this as much as
The Folk of the Air, but it was still good. this book is from wren’s perspective, so that was a change to get used to. i was bored for the first 45%, but to be fair i didn’t really fully get into The Cruel Prince until the last 40% of it either, so i guess i can forgive the rough start. not a writing issue but a me issue was that oak was literally a child in The Folk of the Air, so to read him as a love interest this time was strange and ever so slightly cringey, the same way i feel with younger siblings and their partners

thoughts while reading

p120: well this is fairly reminiscent isn’t it

p235: i knew it! that’s so cute 🥺

p241: don’t take her hairpin 😡

p248: AHHHHH THAT’S WHAT JUDE SAID TOO

p292: damn that was actually pretty hot

p342: wait a damn minute

wren’s heart must be mellith’s!!!

p350: this is absolutely insane

quotes

I find them both disconcerting and fascinating in equal measure.

I am drawn to watching his face, as though through his dreams, I will learn his secrets.
Something is very wrong with me.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit

llcardenas's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

thevanessa's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Definitely not the same as the Cruel Prince, but it still had that fairytale essence that I love. But with that being said, I really did miss my conniving little Queen, Jude, though. I felt like it really lacked that element of gray, that Jude always gave; the one that always kept you on your toes and on the edge of your seat in suspense, questioning where it would lead and how it would end, so I didn’t read it as quickly as I did with the Folk of the Air trilogy. I do really love Oak and Wren though, enough so that I’m gonna ignore the fact that I figured out the whole plot in the first few chapters😅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

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