Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

A Curse Carved in Bone: Saga of the Unfated, Book 2 by Danielle L. Jensen

20 reviews

juliannecridlin's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, War

zanazy's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Freya's story continues, and this book picks up immediately after the first book's ending. The book is fast-paced and full of action. It was only the second book this year that I simply could not put down. Truthfully, I enjoyed this book more than I did the first. 

Freya goes through a lot and ultimately, it's her feelings for herself and loved ones that drive all her actions. Though she was betrayed by the man she loved, she sticks to her decision of joining them on their journey back to Nordeland to speak to

Bjorn's mom

. 

As Freya continues to unravel the mystery of the visions seen by Saga, there are twists and turns that change Freya and Bjorn forever. Some of the twists were predictable, but many were not, which is what kept me reading. Even when I suspected something, the way the truth was revealed still managed to surprise me. I wasn't entirely correct. 

Bjorn goes through his own trials and betrayals which ultimately brings him and Freya together, as they were always meant to be. 

My favorite part of this book is the added depth of the side characters and their impact on the main story.  Several battles throughout the story get bloody as I would expect them to be. We also see new mythological beings make an appearance, which was a surprise. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Kidnapping

Minor: Confinement, Physical abuse, Torture, Pregnancy, Alcohol

jayloreads's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

jennipea382's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Excrement, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol

grace_b_3's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, War

Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury

kitkat7878's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark inspiring 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail

dhrutibc's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting

Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, War

Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, Blood, Vomit

doctorbrew's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A lot of book two focuses on Freya’s decentering of men and feminine rage. Her connection to Hel literally personifies that rage. A woman finding and wielding her power in a world ruled by men is a dangerous thing in their eyes. The book delves into the questions of morality in war, “othering” perceived enemies, emotional and mental abuse, men’s lust for power, the objectification of women (in more ways than one), and most importantly consent. I do feel the book feels rushed at times. Some character deaths fall very flat to me because I felt the scene needed to breath more to truly encapsulate grief in an appropriate way. Like

Snorri’s death. Bjorn literally just finds out he’s been the victim of narcissistic abuse and manipulated into killing both of his parents and nearly has no overwhelming breakdown over this. Finding out nearly everything in your adult life is a lie and your primary caretaker has cruelly and purposefully deceived you would be devastating for anyone. Let alone finding out your mother has truly been dead all this time and now you’ve just killed your own father too. I felt the same rushed pacing when we find out Freya’s brother died, her killing an entire fleet of her own people and condemning them to Helheim, and even when she inevitably kills Harald. All of these scenes would’ve benefited with extra time and more emotional weight. I know the point was not to see Freya as weak, but I think overwhelming anxiety from her power over Death as well as her innate desire to weird it could have hit harder if we’d gotten more of that grief and anxiety and mistrust of herself.

Other than that, I did enjoy this series. I felt very sad it was over. I did enjoy book one more than two, but the ending still holds its own and portrays redemption, female empowerment by means of reclaiming your voice, your story, and your truth, and recognizing the many faces of sacrifice. This series is easy to enjoy, the characters are memorable, flawed, and likable. And most importantly, I feel the love between the two main characters is actually believable. I still stand by not loving the insta-lust in book one, but it’s clear to me they do love, like, and respect one another. I’m going to miss my fishwife and firehand.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury

rubyysnooze's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, War

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gore, Vomit, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury

spatterson7's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder

Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Vomit, Cannibalism