Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

38 reviews

mallorypen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Okay, so I liked it ... but that first third of the book was a CHORE to get through. I understand why there was so much exposition - there was a fairly complicated magic system to explain, as well as a need to set the class system and history of the Lord Ruler - but by the forgotten gods it took a looooong time.

That said, once the plot really started to get going after the end of Part 1, this was a fantastic political thriller and mystery. Vyn as a protagonist was NOT a Mary Sue - which was great - and I got so frustrated with her lack of empathy in some situations, her selfishness in others, and her decision-making pretty much across the board. I don't know if I liked her character (and I'm pretty tired of the Chosen One trope) but I did root for her. Her inner monologues were ... a bit wooden, for my tastes, but they got the job done.

Once we got into the story and the others were able to develop their personalities a little more, I generally liked all the various members of the crew. They all became distinct from one another, and

when the Ska rebellion leader died after making his terrible decision with the army, I was sad for his death. When Marsh was thought to have been killed by the Inquisitors, I was sad for his death, too.

And Sayzid? He was the best character out of them all.

I agree wholeheartedly with the general consensus that Brandon Sanderson writes a FABULOUS fight scene. The action is written so clearly, and even with a complex magic system making up 80% of the sequences, I really felt like I was there in the moment fighting alongside the characters.

I'd also posit that Brandon Sanderson writes a mean twist. <spoilers> Marsh actually being alive, and having gone through the process to be an Inquisitor ... I totally didn't see that coming. Or, Kelcier's overarching plot to make himself a legend and then let himself be killed? Mind. Blown.

A few things that gave me pause:

• A white CIS man writing a female protagonist who comes from an enslaved people subjected to torture and subjugation for a thousand years ... I don't know. It hit me in a weird spot how similar some things were between the nobility/Ska and white/Black people; the abuses felt VERY familiar and I'm not sure how I feel about it coming from who wrote it. I don't know. It will take further rumination on how exactly it bothers me.
• The instalove between Ellend and Vyn. Tired, boring, blegh. Why did we need a romance, here?

Anyways. I will read the next two books, but I will be giving myself a break.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, Slavery, Sexual violence, War, Murder, and Violence

aeternus's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Rape

mads_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring sad slow-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? Yes

3.0

Does not pass The Bechdel Test

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Slavery, Police brutality, Physical abuse, War, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Violence, Torture, Child death, Ableism, and Abandonment

Minor: Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Grief, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Genocide, Mental illness, Sexism, War, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, and Toxic friendship

naomi_k's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Slavery, Blood, Death, Violence, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Child death, and Abandonment

Minor: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Rape, and Death of parent

stardewrally's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, and Torture

Moderate: Violence and Sexual violence

Minor: Rape

lindseychastain's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.0

Okay Brandon Sanderson fans, I get it. A lot of people told me I would love this book, and I did. I’m actually glad I went in knowing nothing about the content of this book, I think I enjoyed it more because of that.

I think the thing about this book that I loved so much is that it was really… accessible. It’s not like a lot of high fantasy that is overly indulgent and so much world building that you get lost in it. It’s really an excellent balance of magic/world building and just good street telling. 

Lots of standard tropes here, which is definitely cool with me. But gosh, the characters were all so lovable. I love Vin so much. 

This is part of trilogy but it works really well as a stand alone as well, if I felt I needed to leave it here. I will continue the series, but I don’t feel compelled to dive right back into it. I kinda like that. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, War, Murder, Abandonment, Vomit, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Child death

shlymiller's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Grief, Blood, Medical content, War, and Death

rhogosch's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious 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

Der fulminante Auftakt der Trilogie der ersten Ära auf Scadrial.
Die Welt fühlt sich dunkel und hoffnungslos an. Und allein die Tatsache das ich beim lesen eines Sandersons nicht eben jenes klassische Gefühl von „Epochalität“ gefühlt habe, sondern die Verzweiflung der Figuren, steht schon für sich. Der Ideenvorrat des Sanderson scheint unerschöpflich zu sein. So bekommen wir in diesem Buch nicht eins sondern direkt zwei Magiesysteme, oder vielleicht auch mehr, die sich nicht natürlicher in die Welt einfügen könnten. Wie immer gleichen sie einer Wissenschaft und erscheinen zu keinem einzigen Moment unlogisch. 
Die Figuren sind gewohnt mit viel Liebe zum Detail ausgearbeitet und jede für sich ist iconic. Wieder einmal kann man ihnen beim Wachsen und Überwinden ihrer Schwächen und Vergangenheit während des Lesens zuschauen, bzw. wie sie trotz aller Fortschritte wieder fallen und erneut am Abgrund stehen.
Das Buch wird zu keiner Sekunde langweilig weil es immer wieder Wendungen gibt die ich nicht vorhergesehen habe und schlussendlich zu einem ganz anderen Abschluss kommt als man am Anfang dachte. Und auch wenn das Buch scheinbar in sich geschlossen scheint ist die Saat für etwas viel größeres mit diesem Buch gesät worden. 
Kurzum auch dieses Buch ist mal wieder ein Meisterwerk.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Blood, Emotional abuse, Murder, Racism, and Torture

Moderate: Sexual violence

myrini's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Violence, War, Blood, Death, Slavery, Torture, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Vomit, Child death, Sexual violence, Rape, and Racism

nflamel's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

If the single female character (and protagonist) was not the only one who is subject the male gaze, this would be a much better book.

It is still fun though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Rape, Racism, and Toxic relationship