Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

41 reviews

readwithde's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

I've always had a soft spot for Chaol, and it was cathartic to read through his emotional and physical healing. I appreciated how his injury/disability was handled: as something to work through and around, not a problem to be solved. His "sleuthing" with Yrene to find answers was fun, and I liked that this warrior still had trouble dealing with all the politics.

But the reason I loved this book so much is Nesryn's story. It was refreshing to have a BIPOC FMC with so many connections and interesting characteristics not become the "love interest" side character for Chaol's MC.

I love that she chose herself over their relationship, and she chose to fight in her own way for help and answers in this war. Also, I love her being with Sartaq.

She made meaningful choices, had interesting adventure and action sequences, and came away with arguably the most important hidden information in the series:

Maeve's false identity and purpose in Erilea.

I read this book in tandem with Empire of Storms, and I think both books benefited from that choice. It helped the narrative flow well, giving the reader time to react to both sides, as well as balancing the heavy action of Empire of Storms with the lore of this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content

Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Death, Child death, Murder, Cursing, Violence, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, Animal death, Ableism, Pregnancy, Stalking, and Alcohol

emmerylynn's review against another edition

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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Did a tandem read with Empire of Storms with made the reading experience so much better! Not as much action packed, but offered a deep exploration of how the mind works in the healing process. Absolutely magical! It also set up so many explanations to the lore of the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit and Sexual content

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Death, and Violence

meredith_williams_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

I am first and foremost a Chaol apologist and I love that he gets his own book in this series because his character arc deserves all 600+ pages. Honorable mention to Nesryn, because to be honest, she does most of the actual emissary work in this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Gore

Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent

Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit

that_awkwardpart's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Death, Murder, Stalking, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury

kathrynok's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Ableism, Grief, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Blood

poati's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful

• 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

Moderate: Death of parent, Ableism, and Pregnancy

Minor: Murder, Torture, Sexual content, and Vomit

itsebrumutlu's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad 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

4.25

I'm so angry that Tower of Dawn was the best book of this series because I truly detested Chaol. Correct, past tense. I no longer detest Chaol. He's an obedient chucklehead who had to realize so many things, especially about Aelin, until this book but I'm glad that he finally did. 

The reason I loved this book was actually other characters. First, Yrene. She and Chaol made sense, sure. But she's still too good for that chucklehead. 

I knew that Nesryn was too good for Chaol even before and this book ensured me. And Sartaq. My lovely, brave, stupidly in love with Nesryn Sartaq. I freakin' love him. His crush on Nesryn long before meeting her was heartbreakingly good. I went "Aw" so many times. 

Borte and Hasar just HAVE TO meet Aelin. Especially Hasar would love Aelin (at least, after a while). I think Borte would stress Aedion all the time like Aelin does. And I think Aedion and Sartaq would like each other very much.

I already cannot wait for Falkan and Lysandra to meet. When I realized that Falkan was related to Lysandra, I was so happy. Damn you, Maas for getting me all invested in all these characters. And making Chaol bearable. 

I'm already anxious about the Kingdom of Ash. But I'm starting the book immediately at the same time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Cursing, Death, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

sierrabowers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

I think this book was a good addition to the throne of glass series, but it was definitely not the best one. If I hadn’t done the tandem read, it would have been dreadful. I think the only way people should read this book is in conjunction with empire of storms. The ending was not as enthralling as EOS but definitely gave me motivation to hurry into Kingdom of Ash!!!! I think the journey that Chaol went through emotionally and physically is very important and shows the strength of people who live with physical disabilities. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Blood, Animal death, Child death, Classism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Murder, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Vomit, Medical content, Violence, Sexual content, War, and Sexual assault

aileron's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content

Moderate: Blood, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, War, Sexual assault, Suicide, Animal death, Slavery, and Torture

sarahyjackson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

Best SJM I have read to date. Loved the continued reflections on home, belonging, and identity and the introduction(ish) of healing (mind & body) as its own kind of hero’s journey and superpower.

Also best steam.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Blood, Sexism, and Ableism

Moderate: Vomit and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual violence