Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

39 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

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

samkilbride's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Slavery, Xenophobia, Violence, and War

Minor: Sexual violence

brogancha's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Domestic abuse, Xenophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence

jodean's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Gore, War, Death, Classism, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Grief, and Physical abuse

Minor: Body horror, Ableism, Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture

kermitkid's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

Fantastic worldbuilding. Intersting premise. Different type of fantasy book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Death, Violence, Torture, Trafficking, War, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Rape

unluckycat13's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Fascinating, horror-themed world brought down by predictable character tropes. Main character passes for well written FeMC in Fantasy but is surrounded by predictable tropes of sexual assault and romance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Rape, and Violence

hectoralvf_'s review against another edition

adventurous hopeful 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

4.25

This is the second time I've read The Final Empire (well, the third, but the second was an audiobook and I didn't get much out of it), and I enjoyed it even more than the first time. Although the plot isn't anything new, the characters and worldbuilding are excellent. Moreover, having read the entire Cosmere, I've found many references and foreshadowing both from the book itself and the universe in general that greatly enhance the reread.

The structure is very simple and clear, but I have some issues with the "Sanderlanche." The beginning of the book is too slow, and the climax could be faster. The "Sanderlanche" of the last 15-20% is something I really enjoy, but it leaves the rest of the novel hanging, with the focus solely on building up the ending without any major moments of tension.

The characters and worldbuilding are outstanding. You empathize a lot with the characters, and the different points of view are very well done. Although I wish I knew more about some characters like Dockson.

The world is very well constructed, both in terms of natural and cultural aspects. The decay of Scadrial is conveyed very well in the narration ("Ash fell from the sky"), and the magic system is very easy to understand without losing depth and establishing limits and costs. "Every action has consequences".

Sanderson's prose is simple and easy to read. This is something that is often criticized, but I don't agree. It makes the stories very accessible and immersive, especially in long novels. In my opinion, writing is fundamentally about delivery, about appropriately conveying a story, and Sanderson excels at this. His straightforward writing style helps the reader focus on the characters and the plot without being distracted by pretentious language. However, my only complaint is that he tends to repeat certain words or expressions too frequently. 

As for the theme, I believe the story is about trust, in oneself but above all in others. I don't want to spoil anything, but this is very well represented.

In summary, it's a must-read. Despite some slow moments in the plot, the novel is very accessible, and the characters and world are wonderful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Classism, Death, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Mental illness, Gore, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence

destiny_jay's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Genocide, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death, Violence, War, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Slavery

Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, Physical abuse, Torture, Child abuse, and Grief

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape

kaimetcalfe's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Abandonment, Classism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Rape, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual violence, Death of parent, Torture, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit

angstifies's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.0

this book was great, but very much not extraordinary or “life changing” like i was constantly told it would be. 

i loved the world building, the magic system, and how the plot developed; but i did not connect much with the characters, and i wished the side characters had been more “flashed out”, and i also can’t say that i was very invested in the story for the first half of the novel. 

the latter 50% of the book however was amazing! it was much more interesting and i was truly pulled into the story. 

i know this was one of Sanderson’s first published works so i wasn’t too surprised at the slightly weak writing, but the dialogue made me cringe several times, and the lack of female characters & a terrible forced straight romance (that was unbearable for me and had absolutely ZERO chemistry + why is a 21yo dude not leaving this 16yo girl alone???) bothered me. 

don’t know if i’ll be reading the sequels of this specific series but i’ll definitely be checking out Brandon Sanderson’s other books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Death, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, War, and Physical abuse

Minor: Sexual violence, Rape, and Suicide