Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Witch King by Martha Wells

36 reviews

lacunaboo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Colonisation

Moderate: Grief, Death, Violence, and Confinement

Minor: Kidnapping

ezwolf's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

The Murderbot Diaries is one of my favorite series and I will admit to loving fantasy just a bit more than sci-fi so when I found out about this book I was incredibly excited! 

I really loved all of the characters. The way that Kai and Ziede just immediately adopt both Sanja and Tenes was fantastic. Sanja is exactly the kind of child I think is so entertaining to be taken in by the main character and the dynamic betwen her and Kai and Ziede was so funny. 

Of course this book was even better for its inclusion of queer relationships and the way that gender and names are used. This book takes advantage of its own world building by releasing characters from a strict gender binary which I think is something a lot of fantasy suffers from not doing. Saredi + demon culture was so interesting and I would have loved to learn even more. 

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Death, Self harm, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, Dysphoria, and Colonisation

oracle_of_madness's review against another edition

5.0

This is another strange yet absolutely splendid read from one of my all-time favorite authors,  Martha Wells.  

As is, per usual, I felt like I was dropped in this world suddenly but with still a comfortable ease of learning and understanding about what is happening.   Kai, the main character,  is another great example of Wells ability to create a persona that is sometimes difficult yet also effortless to follow.  The gender and sexuality of the main character remain vague but still fully fleshed out, which may sound strange, but it's one of the many things I love about this author.  The idea that gender and sexuality do not have to have a clear definition to be accepted. 

I loved this story.  A demon prince that wakes up entombed and breaks free.  That can eat souls and talk about how they each tasted.  It's definitely a bit gory but absolutely delightful.   Slow towards the middle, but I still couldn't put this book down.  

Out May 30, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Gore

trippyotter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 An epic start to a genderfluid high fantasy full of rebellion uprising, betrayal, and adventure.

The Witch King takes you through the past as our present-day characters set forth to find their missing friends and discover who betrayed them.

My only wish would have been further progression in the present storyline, but with a complex world and history, I'm not sure that would have been possible. I can't wait to see what lays ahead of our characters as the story progresses. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Physical abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death

maryellen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

This hurts me to say, but... I didn't like this one. I found it confusing,  and the characters lacked depth. I didn't understand who the factions were, why they were fighting, and why I should care. It was a disappointment, considering how much I love her other books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Child abuse, Death, Body horror, Genocide, Murder, Physical abuse, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Violence

uranaishi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Self harm, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Colonisation, Racism, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Genocide, Physical abuse, Stalking, Xenophobia, Slavery, Abandonment, Grief, Police brutality, Murder, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Incest, Medical content, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Excrement, Pregnancy, Ableism, Alcohol, and Classism