Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Dark Heir by C.S. Pacat

13 reviews

onthesamepage's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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

5.0

“I will find you,” Anharion said. “I will always find you. Try to run.”

That ending has left me unwell.

There is such a huge difference in pacing between the first book and this one. I was engaged throughout, and across all the different perspectives, which doesn't happen that often.

The highlights of this book are definitely Will and James, aka Sarcean and Anharion. Their dynamic just hit all my buttons. I have 62 highlights on Kindle, and I'm sure that 80% are related to these two. And it's complex, too, because is this really a romance, considering all the things we know as the reader, that James isn't privy to? And yet it feels like one. It's such a slow burn between them, with so many good moments and quotes. I also feel like there's still more to discover about their relationship in the past, that not all is as it seems there.

All in all, I really appreciate what Pacat is doing with this story, and I'm so excited to find out how it concludes. 

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laequiem's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

5.0


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littletiramisu's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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

4.75

The most painful, tragic love story. Everything hurts.

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puali's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was so tense! I knew that the big reveal would be left for the very end, but I just couldn’t relax. I was simultaneously scared and excited to keep on reading. 

I understand why the need for multiple POVs, especially if you have characters in different locations, but I just couldn’t warm up to some of them. The fact that I didn’t quite like a few of the characters kept me from reading more at times. I also missed Violet terribly. I hope the next book focuses more on her again.

Some of the revelations really caught me by surprise! I’m honestly clueless as to how this story is going further developed, but I’ll gladly stick around to find out. 

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emilia777's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny 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 very rarely read fantasy books, but i’m so glad i read this series, it was incredible. i love morally grey characters and complicated hero/villain dynamics. 
all i gotta say is, will deserves the world, cyprian needs to be throttled and james should get a fckin break after carrying this series on his back. thank you

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pitsikakku's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.5


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quinnyquinnquinn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0


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bergha1998's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.25

So good, that end should be illegal, but so good. I’ve never read a book with the central theme of this book: trying not to become the evil curse you were born to. And it’s done so excellently. The betrayal and the heartache of it all. They’re all so young too that everyone’s choice make sense, but still hurt. 

Fantasy, Found Family

“She knew by now words didn’t help, and that when things were broken they never really got mended. You just went on. You just went on as best as you knew how.”

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skienight's review against another edition

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

5.0


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meliflowers's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I lost a bit of my mind reading the last chapter. What do you mean I have to wait at least a year for the third book?

Oh god this is genuinely a perfect sequel to the first book. A great fantasy with amazing world building and flow and insanely good storytelling. I have to say though, the one thing that makes me go berserk is the relationship dynamics. Amazingly well done! Each character, from the past to the present, has a fitting role and they're all woven together so perfectly. Even in the second book we're surprised with plot twists and turns.

I feel like we've come a full circle. I'm going crazy with anticipation for the next book. I just need Will to be happy and feel loved.

The slow burn is indeed burning. Can't believe the one thing I've been yearning for so badly has become the thing that has hurt and upset me the most.

C. S. Pacat once again proves they're a master in creating complex and exciting stories and characters. One of the most exciting and well executed fantasy books I've read this year. 

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