Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

9 reviews

kiwij96's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

3.25

This was so unnecessarily long, some parts of chapters felt like filler, even some of the chapters themselves. It took half the book just to get to the plot, by which point I hated ¾ of the characters. It was riddled with typos and grammar mistakes which was entirely distracting and resulted in me having to reread parts just for it to make sense in my head.

I liked the concept though, multiple POVs surrounding a high-stakes heist, set 10 years after Darrow succeeds in ending Octavia's rule and liberating the Colours. This sees Darrow believing his own legend and how things cannot truly change in a broken system. I loved Lyria and I look forward to getting to know her better in Dark Age. Lysander's POV felt out of place in the greater scheme of things. And I definitely need more of Volga and Kavax. I also loved Holiday and Theodora essentially playing the secret service. My favourite ladies.

All in all though, this book was a disappointment compared to the original trilogy. It was over-gory, sexist, and an incredibly uncomfortable read with the amount of times the word "wh*re" was thrown around. I also do not understand Pierce Brown's obsession with breasts and general nakedness in this book it was honestly unnecessary.

Also, if the summary on the back of the book hints at "Obsidian pirates" and there are none, I need to know where they went and what else didn't make the cut in the editing process if THIS is what went to print.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Murder, Racial slurs, Slavery, Addiction, Blood, Torture, Gun violence, Bullying, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Death, Genocide, Death of parent, Racism, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Drug use, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

murrayscottferguson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Medical trauma, Racism, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, War, Violence, Emotional abuse, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Gore, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic friendship, Blood, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Sexism, Slavery, Classism, Grief, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Confinement, and Drug abuse

setsailforthestars's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! I’m always hesitant about authors continuing a beloved series but this felt like a good way to carry forward the story. I enjoyed the POV and introduction of new characters, and the development of old ones. Interested to see where it goes from here.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Cannibalism, War, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Kidnapping, Child death, Addiction, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Slavery, and Torture

kjbeale's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: War

Minor: Sexual content, Torture, and Slavery

mirrorstorm_'s review against another edition

dark

3.75

Not a bad book but not enjoyable. Little slow and felt like drawn out set up for future books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Child death, War, and Death

Moderate: Kidnapping, Blood, and Cannibalism

Minor: Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Police brutality

chelsaat's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Winning was easy, young man. Governing's harder.

It's 10 years after Darrow and the Gang defeated(?) the Society, and 2 years after I read Morning Star. Did I have to read a recap to remember everything that happened in the original trilogy? Absolutely. But I think this book does a good job of getting you up to speed. The gist: shit's still bad.

I liked the addition of more POVs here, especially since I find Darrow INSUFFERABLE in this book. I get his thinking, but his thinking is SO alpha male that I cannot abide it. Maybe listen and work with your super smart and savvy wife for once, Darrow??? But no, woe is him. His way or the highway.

Lyria is my baby girl and I cannot allow any harm to come to her. I suspect Pierce Brown and I will have to come to blows about this as the series goes on.

Overall I enjoyed the plot here more than I did the original trilogy, because I find the concept of Reconstruction more interesting than Revolution itself. This book was a ton of set-up for the rest of the series, so I'm still withholding judgment on a lot of things (mainly you, Lysander). Minus a star because of all the graphic violence, which I'll never be a fan of. I know people love it. I know it's copying a lot of IRL history. But I could have lived my life content having never read a detailed description of a man being torn apart from the inside, you know? Sorry to be lame or whatever!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Slavery

agent_friday's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Car accident, Death, Abandonment, Murder, Slavery, Torture, and War

surbhi_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Gun violence, Addiction, Violence, Genocide, Child abuse, Gore, War, Racism, and Physical abuse

therensistance's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Death, Murder, Racism, Slavery, War, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug use, Child abuse, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Cursing

Minor: Rape