Reviews with content warning for Torture - Tower of Dawn

I picked this book up as my continued effort to read the Throne of Glass series this year.
"Tower of Dawn" continues on in the Throne of Glass series, but it is from Chaol's perspective. Chaol has always been a fearless leader, and he has prided himself as one, but that is put to the ultimate test when he is severely injured following a particularly challenging battle. He now has to rely on one of the best healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica, Yrene, to help him get his body working again. With war on the horizons, the stakes are even greater.
I am so happy I did not give up on this series because I really, really enjoyed this book. Chaol is kind of a toxic male with his attitudes towards Yrene and everyone else. He is very preoccupied with how he appears to other people, and he does not like for people to see him struggle now that he is injured. However, I think this depiction is true to his character, and it was his fixation on protecting his manhood that ultimately made him focus on working through the pain to heal. I loved being given the opportunity to be in Chaol's head and really seeing there is so much more to him than people think.
I loved Chaol's and Yrene's dynamic together. They really know how to push each other's buttons, but they also see other for who they really are. They are the dose of reality the other needs.
I think this was the change in pace I needed to stay invested in the story and I am now so excited to pick of "Kingdom of Ash" and see how this all ends.

Content Warnings

aileron's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

3.0

Content Warnings

cisforcookie88's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

4.0

Content Warnings

ohgull's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious 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

4.75

Content Warnings

levesc17's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

It could *almost* be a standalone book; the plot and character development are honed and satisfying. We get some answers to mysteries! Do not skip this book just because Aelin is not in it!!!!

Content Warnings

msradiosilence's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

1.25

I hate this book with every fiber of my being. Chaol Westfall is an awful character who defers only suffering, and I think poor darling Yrene deserved better. All of the twists? Absolutely saw them coming. The blatant and sickening ableism in this book? Disgusting. The only reason I didn’t DNF was because I would’ve been upset that I let a book beat me, and I’d already spent 8 1/2 hours slogging through it.

Content Warnings

axahean's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

Content Warnings

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