Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

11 reviews

rory18's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.75

Only took off a quarter star because there was some weird nonsensical tense-switching. (At least in the audiobook)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Ableism, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Torture, Blood, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: War, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping

Minor: Sexual assault, Animal death, and Sexual content

The abuse Wren goes through really has ABA/abuse of an autistic person vibes, and she's autistic coded IMO even if it's not explicit.

may4la's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child death, Child abuse, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: War, Violence, Slavery, and Self harm

Minor: Cannibalism

isfantasi's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Child abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Gore, Drug use, Torture, Confinement, War, Slavery, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity, Cannibalism, and Child death

malakabdullah's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Torture, and Child death

noteverywonder's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

It took most of the book for me to start liking the main character, Wren, but once I got there I was pleasantly surprised. I particularly liked the unfolding of the histories and motivations of the characters in this book.

As a whole the balance between giving information about the characters, and things actually happening leaned more towards the former. Yes, Wren's story is fascinating, and getting to know her, Oak, and their companians is enjoyable. However, at times it feels like a really long prologue. The excitement happens too late for my taste. It does, however, do a good job of making me eager to pick up the next book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Blood and Child abuse

Minor: Child death

anastashamarie's review

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

⚠️ Warning: this one has a lot of childhood trauma in it. 

❄️ As a character study of Wren and her trauma, this is A+. As an adventure odyssey, it's enjoyable. As a romantic fantasy, I kind of wanted more. 

🏰 I wish the romance burned a little slower. I LOVE friends-to-lovers, but I don't think it had the chemistry I was seeking. There was also a surprising about of plot armor, and at times, it felt like the book was rushed, not in terms of pacing (pacing was actually pretty good) but in terms of publication? Like it wasn't as polished as a lot of Holly Black's other plotlines. 

🗡️ BUT I love grown-up Oak's arrogance. I double loved the exploration of Wren's trauma and character. I loved getting to see Elfhame again. And, yeah, okay, even for my complaints, I will be anxiously awaiting the next one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Murder, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death, Infertility, and Suicidal thoughts

donatio's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I did enjoy Black's writing as always but the characters did not draw me in like Jude and Cardan did. I was intrigued by their personalities but in the end there was too much of the not telling someone, a trope I think is overused by now, and I was confused by the romance.

Suren and Oak were neither together nor only friends yet they did not say a word about it, like? And why are the love interests always taller than the protagonists? I am kind of tired of it.</spoiler >
It was a nice read and I will continue the story but it cannot compare to Jude's story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Torture, Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Medical trauma, Body shaming, Gore, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, and Physical abuse

nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Violence, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, War, Body horror, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Grief

dianaschmidty's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Violence, Abandonment, and Death

Moderate: Child death

lauramparis's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail