Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

310 reviews

dannmaher's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Grief, Child abuse, Body horror, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Slavery, and Gore

Content warning: In adding my review I have included over ten content warnings that I believe are necessary. I think this is an important book to talk about and the way that women are viewed(?). There is just a lot of various forms of violence that women face throughout the book so it is hard to suggest to some of my AFAB, Trans, feminine presenting friends because it touches on experiences that 'women' face in the world. I think if you can accept the content warnings it is overall a good book and potentially going to be a good series.

swane_nook's review

adventurous medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Death

chilivanilli28's review

adventurous dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Blood, Violence, Child death, Death, and Gore

bridgettetepper's review

adventurous 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

3.0

Some of the writing took away from the story (Repetitive lines, not much left for implication) but the character and story was cool enough to see past it. The beginning was hard for me to grab onto but a few chapters in and I saw the direction a bit better. Overall, nothing super surprising or unique but a good story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, and Death

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: War, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

beks_stowaway's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.0

I really liked the book to start but ended disappointed by the underlying social commentary. It pushes really strong at the end. I'm all for books empowering women, and love deep world building, but this book is anti men in a lot of places — a big let down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Torture, Death, Religious bigotry, and Genocide

Minor: Rape

carolined314's review

dark hopeful mysterious

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Trafficking, Body shaming, Slavery, Death, Classism, Torture, Violence, Murder, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, and Bullying

Moderate: Sexual assault and Confinement

marketa_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, War, Sexism, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Grief, Rape, and Sexual assault

kallania's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Please read fully before judging:

I've read a lot of books in my lifetime and I've never almost put a book down so many times in my life... from the get-go this book was sickeningly violent.. the religion in the book was simply a way to oppress the women folk in the most drastic of ways.. the main character is viciously and cruelly tortured while being emotionally abused and used by her captors... it was everything I could do to get through the section as i felt sickened for her.. 

That being said when she's freed from her would be grave the story changes into a beautifully interwoven story of treachery, betrayal, and the fight for freedom.. I loved the book by the end and couldn't bring myself to ever put it down until I finished it and couldn't wait for the next one to be published. 

This book is not for the faint of heart, if you have led a traumatic life, or know those who have, been prosecuted for religious beliefs, or been oppressed by a religion you don't believe steer very clear of this book. Honestly, if your even the type to look away during violent scenes on TV don't read this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Torture, Kidnapping, Blood, Gore, Violence, Medical trauma, Misogyny, War, Hate crime, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Racism

kimberly_a's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Blood, Genocide, Death of parent, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, and Religious bigotry

genevievefv's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.25

Such interesting concepts and ideas (also incredibly dark), but not perfectly executed. Happy I read it, but I don’t think I’ll continue the series - the writing just isn’t great at all. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Death, and Sexism

Moderate: War, Rape, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Violence