Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

48 reviews

lilifane's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

If I had to describe this book with two words, I would say: Emotional Damage!
I haven't cried this much while reading for a long time. I think I didn't last a single chapter without tears. 

Although I think the plot is the weakest point and the pacing is not as well done as in the first book, I still loved it a lot. Personally, I hoped we would focus on the characters and problems still present from book one and maybe a little discovering and adventuring. But it was a lot of talking instead, and then new characters were introduced who brought new problems or rather another layer of the same problems. 

Still, I loved the characters with all my heart and even if we didn't see some of them as much, I was glad about every second we got. I was also impressed by how trauma and healing were discussed in the book. These were the main themes in this duology, and they were explored in a very nuanced way. 

But beware of triggers. So many hard and dark and triggering topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Confinement, Violence, Death, and Misogyny

Minor: Rape and Sexual content

anneroza's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Grief, Rape, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Slavery, Death of parent, Confinement, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Kidnapping

pphector's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking and Slavery

dlrosebyh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

3.5

Lazlo and Sarai are not the same people they were before the disaster. They both struggle to understand their new identities as ghosts and gods, respectively, as dark-minded Minya holds them captive in order to get revenge on Weep.

While Sarai is more powerless than ever, Lazlo must make the impossible decision of whether to save the woman he loves or everyone else. The muse of nightmares, Sarai, has yet to fully realize her potential since sometimes, only the most desperate need can teach us our own depths.

I suppose I liked everything about this sequel, with the exception of the fact that the primary plot didn't really get going until the 30% point. It wasn't as intense as the previous book in the series, but it was still quite enjoyable. I adored the character depth, and the cliffhanger really caught my attention. I truly believed that this was the final installment in the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Trafficking, Rape, and Slavery

doodeedoda's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, Death, Confinement, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Child death, Mental illness, Trafficking, and Child abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Self harm

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

 As with Stranger the Dreamer, I was enamored with Laini Taylor's writing, which blossoms like orchids on the page. The story is good - there are a lot of exciting elements and complex characters - but Laini Taylor's writing steals the show. She may be a bit flowery for most, but she steals my heart and weaves gossamer threads through it, and I am in love.

There were a few things that were too easy, especially redemption arcs and resource acquisition, but I'm willing to forgive all of it. However, I lament that Muse of Nightmares felt like a middle book, and I'm crestfallen at the lack of continuing adventures.

Altogether well-worth reading and a breath of beauty and joy in this otherwise dismal universe. An easy five-star because Laini Taylor has a gift for weaving magic in her worlds and creating characters of all shapes and sorts that the reader can't help but love. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent, Torture, Child abuse, Rape, and Trafficking

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and War

chantellimus's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Child death

Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, War, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, Violence, Slavery, Sexual assault, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping

Minor: Racism, Lesbophobia, Self harm, and Sexism

sealbrecht's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Grief, War, Blood, Death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Torture, Trafficking, Rape, Sexual content, and Slavery

dariat13's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

mariediane016's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Child abuse