Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

107 reviews

chapterscaffeineandchaos's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

mittan's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

allthefelicia's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

coltonchase's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

lizbit_luo_who's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book continuously asks "what if?" and answers back with brutally honest truth. What if society is built on inequity? What if advancements in society are build on oppression? The emotional journey the protagonist, Sciona, takes as she asks these questions and uncovers the truth about her society is painfully beautiful.

The characterization of Sciona is also a unique antithesis of the strong female protagonists that has become almost a trope in and of itself: she is not an ethereal beauty, loved and desired by everyone she meets, but rather a surly, selfish academic. She is not a chosen one with innate power, but rather a woman who has sacrificed everything in pursuit of knowledge and skill. She is not morally pure, but recognizes that through her faults, no matter what action or inaction she takes there will be real world consequences.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Gore, and Violence

professoremdash's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

5.0

Harrowingly dark and gripping. Really enjoyed this, especially with all the twists and turns. Recommend for any fantasy or dark academia fans. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Murder

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

The book has themes of genocide and also has a section of the book with the setting in an ongoing riot status. There is a scene that’s a sexual assault. Complicity in institutional segregation and genocide is the major theme of the book.

thenoboshow's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

matty_joe319's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

It’s such a cliche phrase at this point, but this book truly has it all. It’s a fantasy with a detailed, unique magic system that is easy to understand and will also please the steam-punk and sci-fi fans. It has graphic action sequences that made me forget to breathe, but the gore never feels excessive or exploitative. It has flawed, multifaceted characters who are hilarious and heartbreaking in alternating moments. It has romance that has real substance to it. It has some of the best commentary on social issues I’ve seen in a while from a fantasy novel, but doesn’t feel preachy, one-note, or heavy-handed. It works as a hell of an allegory, but is also just an incredible story in its own right. Truly one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read. It is a brutal read, but the whole experience is so engaging that you are at risk of doing what I just did - reaching the halfway point and then staying up til 4 to finish the rest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and War

trapdorr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

The parallel commentary of this novel on our own society is poignant. I thought this novel and magic system was incredibly well done. Very happy I took down this rec from tiktok.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual assault, Murder, and Classism