Reviews tagging 'Death'

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

46 reviews

buff_dude's review against another edition

dark inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.5

Neon Genesis Evangelion if it were told by an infinitely more empathetic storyteller (and minus the fanservice).

This book discusses some important topics, including radicalisation, child soldiers and grooming, and it keeps these issues at the centre of its plot without desensitising the reader from them by heaping all of them in at once. It's not just an information dump either - the characters are genuinely engaging, which makes it all the more impactful when you see the effects of their soldier upbringing.

The plot follows the de-brainwashing of the protagonist, including the realisation of her anger towards an abuser, and love towards her friends and family. There's nothing quite as inspiring as seeing her embrace herself and break out of a sea of trauma.

That said, I'm not about to pretend that the world building was flawless. There were large swathes of exposition that I'm not even going to try understanding. I still don't know who was on which side of what war but the main point of the book was war bad so I suppose it's not a big deal. The plot itself tends to get messy around midway to 3/4 of the way through the book, but power through it and you will be rewarded. (I have a whole set of sticky flags around that bit with the same note: what the fuck is happening.)

Overall an eye-opening read worth the time. If you're considering picking this up and care about characters being lovable, note that a lot of them, especially the protagonist, are not, but this is mainly due to a very very rough upbringing that they learn to grow out of.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Xenophobia

Moderate: War, Child abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Transphobia, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

Minor: Abortion and Animal death

sarasreading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

3.75

Before reading I knew the MC would be a terrible person, and I think that helped with my expectations. I didn't know much else about it though, and it drew me right in. There are a LOT of conversation points in this book, and while the book was already on the longer side, I almost wish it were even longer? To delve into those a little more deeply. 

I also would have liked even more world building, especially regarding the Wisdom, because I found it fascinating. I also would have liked some character relationships to have more time. AND more time for the ending as it felt a bit rushed and just cut off at the end. Maybe an epilogue? 

I guess I'm saying I would have liked this to be a couple of books lol! 

But I enjoyed it. It always left me guessing and kept me on my toes, and I enjoyed how the unlikable main character learned and grew out of the extremist world view she was brought up with. 

CW: There are so many, and they're listed in the beginning of the book. Heed them if you need them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Transphobia, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Suicide, Murder, Death, Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Rape, Grief, and Ableism

Minor: Abortion

madscientistcat's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Death, Suicide, Murder, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Cursing

Moderate: Rape and Pregnancy

pineapple_queen's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Physical abuse, Bullying, Xenophobia, War, Violence, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, and Torture

btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Kidnapping

Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, Ableism, and Rape

zoenelson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, War, Xenophobia, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, Death, and Lesbophobia

clhtdr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

Readers who enjoy the humor of The Locked Tomb series or The Wayfarer series may enjoy this.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, War, Violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Colonisation

hailstorm3812's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced

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

4.5

This is a tough read, but so worth it. It is both incredibly dark and incredibly hopeful. Kyr's arc is so well done and the side characters are so interesting. It makes so many interesting points. I think it straddles the line of YA and adult in an odd way sometimes, most evidently in the very ending which I have mixed feelings on. Overall I really did love it and highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, War, Suicide, Genocide, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, Torture, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Kidnapping

Minor: Ableism, Outing, Bullying, Abortion, Rape, and Pregnancy

lizgriffinwords's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

3.75

Hard to review this one because of the triggering nature of some of the content, but still excellently done. If you like The Expanse & Mass Effect & multiverse concepts and you can stomach a hellish future for women, give this a read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, War, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Homophobia, Gaslighting, Genocide, and Violence

Minor: Sexual harassment, Rape, and Torture

rsb12's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Abortion, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Genocide, Murder, Alcohol, Death of parent, and War