Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Song of the Forever Rains by E.J. Mellow

15 reviews

authorash's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Not bad, it took me awhile because I got too busy with work and then hit a reading slump. It wasn't keeping my attention heavily that I felt compelled to finish reading it despite that. I like the concept and the interesting plot that was taking place with the intrigue and mystery behind things. It'll be interesting to see where the sister's story goes too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Drug use, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Death of parent

Familial Abuse:

There are a lot of cases of Familial Abuse, which, both times it's shown, can be pretty graphic. One character forces another to harm themselves through magic control.

beetree's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.0

This was just okay - fairly surface level and predictable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Physical abuse

Moderate: Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death of parent

mvergari_13's review

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

I think the idea of the series is cool but unfortunately for me the pacing was too slow and way too predictable. The main characters were hard to identify with. The ending felt sort of rushed and obvious. The romance was technically slow burn but I wasn't very emotionally invested in it. The characters technically had character growth but it didn't feel like they actually had to process or learn anything and the author had an end goal but struggled with the journey. The setting was interesting and the magic was fun.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Torture

jennaniho's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.0

The biggest takeaway I had from this story was the dynamic perspective offered through the eyes of both Darius and Larkyra, while still keeping the latter as the main focus. Most importantly, E.J. Mellow's narrative beautifully captures the weight of their concealed emotions and makes them remarkably relatable, underscoring the profound lesson that, we can often be our own adversaries or we can decide to be our own saviors. Likewise, the world building is not too specific but not too vague; just right to keep your imagination going and still retain a bit of mystery of "what will come next".

Yet, the biggest focus "Song of Forever Rains" has is towards the lesson that our voice is our biggest weapon and ally; revealing that mastering when and how to use it empowers us to be not only assertive and potent but ultimately, happy and capable of facing even the hardest of challenges.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Blood

Moderate: Self harm, Addiction, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment

dragonqueen10741's review

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Torture, Bullying, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death of parent

ender24's review

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

A entertaining and wonderful book. I’ve fallen in love with the world and it’s characters, and I can’t wait to read the next two books. I was not expecting the romance, but I feel like it did not impede the story in any way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Drug use, Death, Domestic abuse, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, and Self harm

Minor: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

restingconfusedface's review

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

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

4.5

Characters: 86
World: 98
Plot: 78
Overall: 87

- strong female characters and friendships
- abusive parental figures 
- spy/assassin
- the world makes me want to explore
- Balls and gowns

It’s a spy/assassin plot line in an expansive open world video game world with a dash of pride and prejudice and delightful characters. 



There is something extremely delightful about this book. The world is fascinating and the way EJ Mellows writes it is transportive. This book feels like it could have easily been a video game with Kaipo being the fast travel option. The world feels like a critical role world. It is just delightful. And even with the rich and vibrant world it felt light like the world building didn’t slow you down like it often does for me making reading fantasy novels a bit more of a chore. Needless to say I’m obsessed with the world building. It was unique and gritty and dark while still being enchanting and beautiful and light. It was the perfect blend between the elegance of historical romance settings with their balls and gowns and castles and propriety and like a glorious expansive open world rpg like breath of the wild or xenoblade. And we’ve only seen a silver of this world in this book. I can not wait to see more with the second and third book. 

The characters are delightful. Larkyra is funny and mischievous and adds so much levity to this book. Which sadly I’ve missed from a lot of the fantasy novels I’ve read. She is such a strong and kind heart that just makes me want to be her friend. Darius is cute and he seems like he’s constantly out of his depth when talking to Larkyra and her sisters. He reminds me of a stray kitten. I love the banter between Larkyra and Darius. And Naya is going to be such a fun next protagonist. And given how wonderful the development of all the characters thus far I am excited to learn more about some of the more stoic characters in the third book, Arabessa and Zimri. 

That being said I found the romance plot line a bit lacking, I’m sorry that kind of hurt to say given all that I love about this book. It felt a bit rushed at the end like once the actual plot was taking a rest the romance subplot was like boom sex alright back to the murder. Not to say their relationship was not developed but I feel like their interactions were meant to develop either Larkyra or Darius individually but not them as a couple. Also given the historical setting I was expecting a bit more longing and pining and more tension. 

And the plot was a tiny bit predictable.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, and Blood

wordsasnames's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent

abookandaspotoftea's review

dark lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Torture, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

sarahlizzie's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Torture, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Self harm