Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

6 reviews

leaflit's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

I liked this one better than the first one. I wasn’t sure I was going to keep going with the series after the first book but I’m glad I did and looking forward to the third.  Lots going on, faster pace and getting deeper into the lore. Ends with a lot of plot lines set up for an exciting sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Vomit, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Death, Murder, War, Religious bigotry, Genocide, Violence, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual content, Animal death, Kidnapping, Torture, Drug use, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Gore, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Confinement, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Domestic abuse

brynalexa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Much more adventurous than the first book. The ending was full of twists and heartbreak. Amazingly devastating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, Murder, Confinement, Animal death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicide, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and War

Minor: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Sexism

scrubsandbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

No Second Book Syndrome detected here! While the first book seemed to introduce us to the magic and the associated extensive world-building, this one seemed to focus more on the politics. Not only that but this one is more or less Malini's story while the first was Priya's. And these ladies absolutely gutted me. It was an incredible follow-up to The Jasmine Throne, and ends in a devastating cliffhanger.

Much like the first book, there were a number of different POVs but the quantity of different people were scaled down in comparison to the first. As a matter of fact, I think going back and rereading the first might make more sense now after reading this one and knowing who are or were the key players, either those who make it into this book or died in book one. I'm completely invested in seeing this through to the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Body horror

Moderate: Suicide and Child death

Minor: Confinement and Alcohol

karcitis'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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, War, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Murder, Death, Grief, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence

Moderate: Xenophobia, Alcohol, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, and Colonisation

Minor: Classism and Torture

rat_girly's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

Loved this sequel and can’t wait for the third instalment. Pacing was much better than in The Jasmine Throne. The story consistently moved forwards towards a crescendo and plot twist, building to what I assume will be the focus of book 3.

I loved the development of most of the relationships: Priya & Sima, Bhumika & Jeevan, Ahiranyi vs others, and most of all - Rao & Aditya. Queer, boyhood crush vibes. I found Malini and Priya’s relationship to be heavily out of balance, especially given the coloniser/colonised dynamic, but I think that is the point and will hopefully be rectified in book 3.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Violence, Colonisation, Death, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Murder, and War

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Minor: Confinement and Animal death

holyschmitz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

 In this thrilling sequel to The Jasmine Throne, three main characters must reckon with the high cost of power. Dark secrets wait at the root of a strange and powerful magic; brutal war and waning faith surround the figure of a prophesied rule; new threats arise to challenge a newly freed country. With mysteries that draw readers further into the story and twists that keep them on their toes, The Oleander Sword takes the series in exciting directions. I'm rooting so hard for Priya, Malini, and Bhumika, even as their motives differ and their paths diverge, and I'm so exciting to see where Tasha Suri takes them next.  

Themes: the impact of imperialism and war, religion, challenging misogyny and xenophobia within the context of the world, the cost of power and secrets, sapphic romance, complicated characters

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Violence, War, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Body horror, Addiction, Racism, Misogyny, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, and War

Minor: Classism, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Animal death, Suicide, Self harm, and Homophobia