Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Trono de cristal by Sarah J. Maas

28 reviews

cassiecollins's review against another edition

dark 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

2.5

So, this isn't bad by any means, but I don't think it stands strong on its own. I can definitely see it as a good world-building/character development base for the rest of the series (hopefully), but alone it's pretty meh. I did really like Celaena as a character—she was by far the strongest part of the book. Everything else (the love-triangle, arbitrary "competition", pick-me-girl overtures, etc.) got a bit grating. I had to keep reminding myself that there was potential here. Like I said, there is definitely enough that I have hope the rest of the series can improve and build upon, but this first book is fairly weak on its own.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse and Violence

Minor: Sexual violence

aubrieanne's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Slavery, and Drug abuse

Minor: Blood and Genocide

infjkiki's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Slavery, Drug abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Classism, and Death

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape

carlyjoann's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, Drug abuse, and Death

Moderate: Vomit

rae1ear's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery and Violence

Minor: Vomit, Drug abuse, and Sexism

cameronmh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.25

Great story, classic Sarah J Maas combination of court intrigue, romance, magic, and combat. Almost gave it 4.5 but then subtracted a quarter star because of all of the anti-corset bits that really rubbed me the wrong way. I listened to a solid 3 hours of the audiobook while wearing a corset, and I can tell you for dang sure my ribs were not being crushed!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Torture, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Gore, Violence, War, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, and Animal death

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Cursing, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Grief, Gaslighting, and Drug abuse

There is poison! Both a theoretical poisoning (a controlled environment, but still theoretically very dangerous) and a second scene with a purposeful poisoning with an agent that can cause death. There are also hallucinations (which end up to be technically real) caused by the poisoning.

heathersinkwell's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

This book was super enjoyable. It was mysterious and had excellent character development. I read this as the first book of SEVEN. I'm not expecting it to move quickly or be wildly engaging right off the bat. I'm expecting it to lay the foundation. 

Also, keep in mind this is a YA book, not an adult fantasy book. It's comparable to GoT but it's not GoT (which is adult fantasy). There is a decent amount of telling, not showing. Again, I expect that in a YA book. 

People complain about Celaena being whiney or "not assassin-like."

She acts like a CLASSIC 18-19-year-old girl. She didn't WANT to be an assassin. She STILL doesn't want to be an assassin. She had no choice and then was surprised with her training bill. She explicitly states this - she wanted to be a healer, but then her family was slaughtered and Arobynn found her frozen in a river. She wants legit freedom and being the best assassin was her only way out. Of course, she's going to act like a normal 18-19-year-old and choose to behave like an atypical assassin. She never wanted it in the first place and still doesn't want it.

So, despite the hype, I tempered my expectations and enjoyed the book for what it is. I'm excited to read the rest of the series!

Tropes:
-enemies to lovers
-love triangle
-chosen one
-banned magic 
-good vs evil
-reluctant hero
-orphan hero

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Grief, Classism, Death of parent, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Drug use, Rape, and Sexual harassment

aklovekorn's review against another edition

adventurous tense 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Slavery, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Blood, Drug abuse, Gore, and Misogyny

csmall73's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

It’s human. It has the emotional turmoil and rough but accurate flows of processing traumas experienced. Losses of very personal relationships. Dimensions to each character that are not always evident in other writers work. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Racism, War, Drug abuse, Vomit, Gore, Child abuse, and Violence

sdemo08's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted 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

5.0

Re-read. This is the series that got me back into reading for fun after college...little did I know what an avalanche it would become.

I devoured these first time I read them and I still enjoyed the strong female protagonist this time around. I can't wait to continue.

[Eye of Elena on "black currant" crocheted blanket.]

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Content Warnings

Minor: Confinement, Gore, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Violence, Vomit, War, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Grief, Medical content, and Slavery