Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Blood Gift by N.E. Davenport

14 reviews

kjanet's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense 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

4.0

 

I will admit the first book had my attention all the way through with no stops. This one kind of lost me in some places. I feel like the buildup of beating these major powerful villains ended too easily (perhaps not for them, as they were fighting) but something about both major fights seemed anticlimactic. Also, the ending did wrap up MOST of the storylines, but left some open, which, was not horrendous. For some reason, the bigger threat at the end of the book reminded me a tiny bit of the ending of Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor.

Also, the main character’s personality also got kind of annoying. I know she is strong and powerful and whatnot, but her attitude did begin to grate on my nerves sometimes. 

Regardless, still a great Duology (and the author leaves it open to perhaps a companion/sequel duology that takes place some time later). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Genocide

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Racism

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content

shannahtan's review

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I loved this one more because Ikenna spent most of it with her squad and the non-white folks outside of the republic. I appreciated the complex relationship between her and Selene.

Ikenna was still rightfully pissed, ready to kill, and hoped Selene found peace and freedom after disappearing.

It got a bit cheesy between

her and Reed. I appreciate when they have sex for the first time in this book because she thinks about running away from the intimacy after then talks herself out of it. I thought that was nice character development and didn’t cause extra unnecessary drama like with Xaden and Violet in Iron Flame.

They’ve been through a lot and evaded death multiple times. There was only one really scene. I wish there’d be another series for the war with the Gods. 

Loved the duplogy. If you’re looking for romantasy. escapism that doesn’t have racism then this isn’t it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Racism, and Sexual violence

lesliehirgelt's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

I felt that the writing wasn't quite as strong in this book as it was in the first one, and it arguably ends on a cliffhanger, or at the very least has an ending that heavily implies there is more story to tell for these characters. It seemed like an odd choice for what is supposed to be the conclusion of a duology. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Death, Blood, Misogyny, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Sexism, Racial slurs, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Classism and Alcohol

evemason's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Genocide, Sexual assault, Violence, and Xenophobia

fleur____'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Cursing, Misogyny, Blood, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Gore, Death, Genocide, Racial slurs, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Torture, and War

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Classism, and Alcohol

sahramahtab's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

I am so that sad that this series was limited to a duology. This was a stellar example of black excellence. I loved every second and the beautiful characters. Especially Ikenna and Darius. And I look forward to any of Davenports future projects.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Blood, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Grief, and Blood

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, and Sexual content

kaitrates's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

I know a lot of people *didn't* like this one but let me tell you I fucking loved it.

Sexier, more gruesome, more murder-y.

I mean THEY KILL A GOD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!

And listen a TON happens. Like you keep thinking this is it and then THERE'S ANOTHER BATTLE. But even with that, even knowing that this was supposed to be a trilogy and Davenport had to rework it into a duology - I couldn't pinpoint a singular place where "book 2" would've ended.

It flowed, it made sense, it was really fucking fun.

And it was a strong reminder that revolution is bloody AND that peace is worth fighting for.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Racial slurs, and Death

thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I have so many mixed emotions!!! The Blood Gift is book two in The Blood Gift Duology and boy was it an epic conclusion. Things pick up right where we left off at the end of The Blood Trials with Ikenna and her newly formed squad. Once you’re on the ride, you don’t get off until the very end. Grievances are sorted out, evils are slain, and justice is finally served, but for all the action you can feel that this was intended to be more than a duology. Davenport does an amazing job at tying up the story while keeping you on the edge of your seat, but we miss out on seeing a lot of character development. With there being a new team and budding romance there just wasn’t room for us to really see how deeply those relationships formed which is what I desperately craved for Ikenna. Overall I loved the story and appreciate how the author left hints for more to come from these characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Torture, Genocide, Gore, Murder, War, and Blood

lqvekanej's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, War, Violence, Cursing, Alcohol, Death, Sexual content, Murder, Racial slurs, and Sexism