Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

210 reviews

elledanie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-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

Had to give 5⭐️ since it made me cry so much! Will be thinking about this one for a while…SJM does it again, a mastermind 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Torture, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Grief, Medical content, Animal death, Murder, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, War, Abandonment, Alcohol, Violence, Car accident, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Gun violence, Vomit, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, and Gore

emilysmessydesk's review against another edition

dark emotional

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

3.25

I've read both of SJM's other popular series, ACOTAR and TOG, and I wanted to add this one to my list (especially with a few theories spreading that all 3 worlds are connected...). I didn't have a lot of expectations, considering, so I went into it with a decent knowledge of SJM's other worlds.

I liked the world building in this one: the combination of modern day & magical and how that might look. Cell phones for quick text messages makes communication so much easier!!

Bryce is a spitfire and sassy, and there's a lot more to her character. (Which as per SJM's normal formula, isn't revealed until the very end!) Hunt quickly climbed my list of favorite SJM male characters; he's clever and thoughtful.

However, I really did *not* enjoy the twist with Hunt at the end. That felt like it came out of left field, which I'm sure was the point, but there was no other indicators that something was up with him. I waited for the other shoe to drop; surely this is a test for Bryce, somehow? It's just a set-up to catch someone else red-handed? But no, this was actually legit and now we're down 2 side characters and Hunt has royally fucked up.

Here's one of my complaints: SJM's characters are quick to forgive big lies/betrayals/etc. Way too quickly. That doesn't feel realistic, or logical, or even *right* because there's oftentimes a lot to unpack about those situations. And a lot to communicate between characters, if they even decide to keep the communication lines open! This plot point just felt kind of thrown in there at the last second, to stew distrust/drama between the two main characters if only to keep the other main plot moving along. I wish there had been more to it than that.

I did cry when Lehabah sacrificed herself at the end. It felt very real, and that friendship was true throughout the book despite its moments of flightiness. Bryce's reveal of buying her deed and freeing her! So good, so heartbreaking.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Cursing, Alcoholism, Torture, Violence, Drug use, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Addiction

raven_go's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Cursing, Murder, and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol

hematthews's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-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: Forced institutionalization, Gore, Murder, Classism, Death, Blood, Cursing, Slavery, War, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Alcohol

kittykels's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad 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

4.0

Still enjoyed this book the second time around. This is probably the best series by SJM. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Slavery, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Vomit

Minor: Torture and Suicidal thoughts

abacall's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

just_me_abbey's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

The beginning was definitely an info dump and I found it a little confusing with all the names, lore and terminology used so rapidly. When the plot actually starts it becomes a lot easier to follow. I didn’t see any of the twists and turns coming, I was on the edge of my seat for the entire last 30% of the book. I cried like a baby multiple times. Such a unique story with so much heart put into it, well worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Slavery

Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, Violence, Misogyny, and Addiction

colorwriter's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Slavery, Death, Grief, Murder, and Sexual content

Minor: Drug use, War, Addiction, Alcohol, and Suicide attempt

thebookshelfofmaggie's review against another edition

challenging tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

The first 10 or so chapters include lots of world building that can be fought to get through, but once you power through that SJM takes you on yet another adventure you’re sure to fall in love with! The plot always had me wanting more and the twists and turns kept my attention! Definitely a must-read if you’re a fan of her other works!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Death

natlonelyghost's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny reflective sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Murder, Slavery, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Torture