Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

38 reviews

dragon_named_fox's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

5.0

Holly Black really writes wonderful books. Despite Surren's character development she doesn't entirely change. Years of trauma aren't wiped away, but she does realize she has more power over her life than she thought. I'm so excited to read the second book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Body horror, Kidnapping, and Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

This is a dark fantasy with violence and main characters who went through a lot of trauma from a young age. These abuses are mentioned often and explicitly from time to time, but each mention is fairly brief.

kay_chan's review

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

I seriously *struggled* to get through this book. Had to restart over a dozen times just to keep track of who/where/what was going on.

Honestly should've DNF'd. 

Not sure whether it's been too long since I read TCP trilogy (2.5 yrs), but I cannot remember the past characters or events well enough to connect with the any of the MCs here. The storyline is flat for 90% of the book and I kept feeling like I was -missing- something (so I restarted each chapter at least once). 

I planned on reading the duology but have decided to preemptively DNF the Prisoner's  Throne. So so so disappointed 😞 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

thevanessa's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Definitely not the same as the Cruel Prince, but it still had that fairytale essence that I love. But with that being said, I really did miss my conniving little Queen, Jude, though. I felt like it really lacked that element of gray, that Jude always gave; the one that always kept you on your toes and on the edge of your seat in suspense, questioning where it would lead and how it would end, so I didn’t read it as quickly as I did with the Folk of the Air trilogy. I do really love Oak and Wren though, enough so that I’m gonna ignore the fact that I figured out the whole plot in the first few chapters😅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Slavery, Physical abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Murder, Torture, Child abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use

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.

starrywrxtes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

THIS DAMN BOOK. Wren is my love, I will defend her always 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Gore, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, War, Torture, and Violence

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

graffitithesky's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book sucked me in as much as The Cruel Prince did (and it certainly didn't hurt that I feel as if I'm starving for even a taste of Jude and Cardan again). Wren is such an interesting character and not one that I see often. I'm always hunting for more fae stories and this one did not disappoint!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Abandonment, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

themichellegray's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-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? Yes

3.0

An average spin-off to The Folk of the Air trilogy that seemed only to be written as a way to capitalize off its predecessor's success. While this story added more lore to Faerieland's monarchy and explored the repercussions of a changeling's upbringing, there are far too many critiques to be ignored.

First and foremost, Oak's characterization was so wildly unbelievable compared to the beloved child we met in TFOTA. I understand this book takes place 8 years after QON and Oak has been forced into a dangerous position but there wasn't even a hint of the wholesome little boy we once knew. Nine year old Oak refused to learn proper swordplay and never showed an ounce of romantic interest in then-bridled Queen Suren. Holly Black simply copy and pasted Cardan's characterization onto Oak's teenage personality but toned down the cruelty/hatred.

Wren's storyline held so much promise since she had such a heartbreaking past to explore. Unfortunately, her characterization became convoluted amongst her confusing decisions and the forced romance. I never became invested in Wren because it felt as-if Holly Black didn't know how to explore the multi-faceted narrative when she's so accustomed to writing bad-ass female leads.

I went into this book expecting the author's clever twists and schemes but instead received a slow-paced quest and predictable ending. It wasn't as bad as the Modern Faerie Tales but nowhere near as captivating as The Folk of the Air trilogy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, and Torture

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual assault, War, and Vomit

mitsuris's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

this book was so fawking good like.. i love wren so much shes incredible i loved seeing her development throughout the story and i teared up a few times while she recounted her childhood :C also love how descriptive holly black is bc i can vividly imagine everything as though i am in elfhame myself aghhhhh excellent read 10/10 will recommend to everyone i know <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror

Moderate: Confinement and War

classical_learner's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Body horror

Minor: Sexual content