Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

37 reviews

permanme's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse

Moderate: Death and Violence

lily_peach's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Minor: Sexual content and Suicide

gummifrog's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.75

I had heard so many great things about this book, and I think the hype outshone it for me unfortunately. I like a lot of the idea of this book: magic, magicians, love stories, circuses, the odd and extraordinary. But ultimately the writing felt very dry and rambling, and I wished there were a feeling of greater closeness with Marco and Celia, whose thoughts we almost never get to see.

However, I am glad I read this. I did get goosebumps at the ending. I loved the setting descriptions and the atmosphere, and all the characters were uniquely quirky and lovable.  I want to visit the circus - I would totally be one of the nerds with the red scarves. The magic systems were fascinating and was described in a way that allowed room for imagination, while being so full of beauty and clockwork machinations. I love the idea that magic is always present in the world, and that most people would rather not see it.

Idkkkk I think I'll have to let this one marinate! 

Also, I read this on audio and I was not a fan of the narrator. He ascribed so many annoying voices and unnecessary accents to characters that didn't need it (does every red headed person need to speak with an Irish accent? Does every Asian character need to have a vaguely-foreign accent? Come on bro 😭).  I might have enjoyed this way more if I'd read it in text form. I may revisit it in several years if I feel in the mood.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Suicide

Minor: Death, Abandonment, and Death of parent

chelseylb1988's review

dark hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Suicide, and Death of parent

abookwormspov's review

mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Dementia, Suicide, Grief, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Confinement, Violence, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Child abuse

zoemaleah's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

A creative, whimsical fantasy novel about a forbidden romance and a dangerous game. It had the aura of a fairy tale. The characters weren't unique or multi-dimentional, but that was okay because they served the purpose of the story beautifully. The main plot is romance, but in a way that creates this beautiful, complex story and layers that kept me intrigued. The writing style was descriptive and sensory, and it made me feel like I was there at the circus some times.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicide

nicole12's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Child abuse

Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, Cursing, and Body shaming

purplepenning's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. His punishment? And his reward." —Oscar Wilde, The Critical as Artist

Undeniably beautiful writing in a turn of the century fairytale that is groundedly gritty and soaringly ethereal. I don't care for circuses, but it was the exact right venue for this story. This one didn't knock me off my feet quite as much as The Starless Sea, which I read first and with no expectations. Partly, I think, because I wasn't as enamored with Marco as I maybe was supposed to be and I wasn't as satisfied with the ending here, but mostly because:
"The finest of pleasure are always the unexpected ones." 

Definitely recommend for fans of The Starless Sea and Alix Harrow's Ten Thousand Doors of January.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Grief, Body horror, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Violence, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Alcohol and Abandonment

Abuse of magic/violation of personal agency: stealing memories, advancing by magically enhanced charm and looks

annasneddon's review

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

tomoonarmy's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Blood, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Death