Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

100 reviews

ivegotyourpaperback's review

3.75

3.75-4⭐️ (I keep fluctuating)

This was another very enjoyable addition to the series.

I felt there was a bit of a lull at the start of the book where the pacing had slowed back down since the ending of book 2. So I found myself almost starting from scratch in terms of being emotionally invested in the returning characters.

In terms of new characters introduced that I’ve come to love, we’ve got:

• Manon Blackbeak (badass bitch extraordinaire)
• Abraxos (cutie patootie)
• Amaranth—— I mean Adarlan’s Whore, Aedion
• Sorscha (under-utilised character IMO)

For me where this book shined was in: 

• the relationship between Dorian and Sorscha 
• The rift between Dorian and Chaol
• The political intrigue and scheming going on in Rifthold 
• Aedion’s feelings and motivations
• Villainous deeds on page from fucked up rulers (side note: does the King of Adarlan have a name?)

I was less thrilled hearing about Celaena’s training montages and depressive episodes with newbie, Rowan. And I wasn’t completely sold on Rowan until he said one of my favourite things an MC can say to another MC: “who did that to you?”. 🫠 After that I was wholly on board with this broody Fae prince.

The last few chapters of the book had me experiencing a roller coaster of emotions and I can’t wait to pick up where we’ve left off (hopefully there’s not another pace change at the beginning of the next book lie there was with this one).

In terms of recommending reading order of the series, I’ve seen a lot of people say Assassin’s Blade should be read next. I’ll try it, but may end up skipping straight to book 4 if I get antsy. 

Content warnings:

⚠️racism towards mixed race beings

⚠️Slurs towards mixed race beings

⚠️implied animal cruelty 

⚠️mention of torture 

⚠️corporal punishment

⚠️murder 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Murder, and Racism

Minor: Torture and Animal cruelty

ernis's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense 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

3.75

A lot of people seem to love this one, but I felt like the plot kinda dragged on a bit compared with the previous 2 novels. I also found it a bit jarring and frustrating to switch between the different, almost entirely unrelated point of views when it felt like a storyline finally was getting going. Love C's development in this one though!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Gore, and Murder

Minor: Torture

merrow's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious slow-paced

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

4.5

I always like the point where a YA series turns from adventures to a desperate fight for freedom, and this book is no exception.

Quite the tragic turn of events at the end, but they set up for some potentially good ways out.

The first half is a bit frustrating as the focus is placed on rebuilding and crumbling over and over again for the main character, but it finds its direction very well for the second half.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Grief, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Self harm, Slavery, Abandonment, Body horror, Deadnaming, and Torture

anguawolf's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Death, Torture, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Emotional abuse, Blood, Hate crime, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Self harm, Slavery, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug abuse

Minor: Bullying and Panic attacks/disorders

mangofraiche's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Torture, War, Murder, Physical abuse, and Slavery

hollymileham'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

4.5

this was really good i think the first half was a bit slow but only because it was developing the characters and the storylines, the second half picked up so much and was so eventful the trauma these characters have been through already and its only the fourth book.. very happy to meet rowan he was a bit freaky at first but thats okay

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Death, and Torture

Moderate: War and Vomit

liesthemoontells's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

My favourite entry in the series so far. The fantasy and worldbuilding is much more mature than in the first two books. While the pacing sometimes faltered a little bit with the array of characters going back and forward, the widened scope and perspective was welcome.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Child abuse, Murder, Toxic friendship, Torture, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, War, Death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse

Minor: Slavery and Vomit

stressedoutreader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent, Torture, and Slavery

Minor: Vomit

oxfordcommas91's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

This series really hit its stride with “Heir of Fire.” I think I was intrigued but not fully sold on Throne of Glass until this book, but HoF is immensely satisfying and weaves together a lot of interesting,  it seemingly disconnected, storylines. I’m curious to see how things will continue to develop as this book also did a lot of set up for some major battles to come. HoF definitely had its slow moments, but interspersed with some good action, as well. I do think that the majority of this book is setting the stage for bigger things, and it did so well. I love how you’re getting to see all the characters develop.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Torture, Violence, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, and War

Minor: Vomit

emsavors's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Animal death, Torture, Vomit, Body horror, Gore, War, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Child death, and Violence