Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi

25 reviews

frankieclc's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Self harm, Violence, and Torture

mj_86's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Addiction, Gore, and Violence

Minor: Sexual content and Animal death

fairyollie's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

oh, Battle Drum; oh, Saara, you did not hesitate to fill my heart and crush it now, did you? what a poignant, heart-wrenching, tumultuous, devastating story; what an honest and raw tale that has been woven here. it is painful and stressful in the most glorious ways. it feels so raw and real that at times it felt more like I was reading a hidden book of world history: climate crises, fights for power, classism, inequity, all wrapped up with stunning world-building and complex characters.

I know people complain that Sylah and Anoor have regressed without one another, but long-distance relationships without means of communication would be HARD! can you even imagine? 

all goes to say that I fear I will be empty until The Ending Fire is released (thankfully I have pre-ordered!) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Genocide, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Blood, Colonisation, Gore, Murder, Violence, Self harm, Slavery, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, Trafficking, Alcoholism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Stalking

booksqworm's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective 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? No

4.25

This book is trying to do a LOT. A lot happens in it and the pacing is a bit confusing. Sometimes it feels super fast and sometimes dragged out, but it is worth it reading all 516 pages. The plot twists and turns which keeps it interesting. There a few horny scenes that felt like they came out of no where and didn’t fit the rest of the book because there is a lot less romance than the first book. I think the book could have been condensed, and Anoors conflict wasn’t my favorite. Her character didn’t really get to shine this book even though she in on the cover. Overall I really enjoy the themes in the book, and the world building is fantastic. There are some amazing quotes, mostly from Hassa. She’s my favorite. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Violence

Minor: Sexual violence

fernanda_o's review

dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Gore

Moderate: Child death, Alcohol, Addiction, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Drug abuse

porcupine_girl's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Ableism, Genocide, Alcohol, Gore, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, Body horror, Cursing, Alcoholism, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical content, Torture, Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Abandonment, Medical trauma, Murder, and Police brutality

Moderate: Addiction, Toxic relationship, and Gun violence

Minor: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Animal death

kathyreadsalot's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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

4.5

I just.. whew. This plot got thicker and more twisty in all the right ways! I need Book 3 to hurry up and come out. Took off half a star because Anoor’s character development I wish would have not been so painful at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Murder, Child death, Gore, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

Moderate: Misogyny, Confinement, and Miscarriage

trashbin's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Miscarriage, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Blood, and Slavery

annamariem_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

SAARA HOW COULD YOU?!?!?!!!!!! THAT ENDING WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WHAT WHAT WHYYYY

HOLY SHIIIIT this was so good I'm gonna COMBUST! I was truly on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this book. I didn't think it could be any better than The Final Strife but I was very much proven wrong! I shouldn't be shocked thought because it's Saara and she always gives us BANGER AFTER BANGER AFTER BANGER!

Hassa and Kwame were such a lovely and welcome surprise. Also! Even though Anoor and Sylah were separated for this book, it did not detract from the story at all. I was not bored once and I was not wishing that they would both be back in the Warden's Empire together. Anoor's character really took a turn during this book and honestly I don't know how to feel about her anymore. I don't like her but I don't hate her? I don't know what exactly it is but I have FEELINGS. Also wtf was that with Jond???? Now I like him again???? I hope him and Kara end up together so he can finally move on from Sylah. But like... Saara you are truly giving us whiplash with these characters!!! And thank gods for the addition of Rascal. Lil cutie angel kitten!!! Can I also say how much I love the Elders? They are so cool and I want to hang out with them for a day in Chrysalis. Also, Nayeli's story is wild and I am here for it. 100% am here to support women's wrongs and feminine rage!!!! 

The reveals towards the end had me slack-jawed!!!! How could Saara leave us hanging like that? I need book 3 IMMEDIATELY.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Addiction, and Colonisation

Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Blood, Violence, and Vomit

lisacanteven's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative 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

I'm a pretty visual person, so seeing stories play out in my head as I read isn't a new thing. However, this book was probably the clearest I could ever see a story in my mind. I still gave the first book, The Final Strife, 5 stars but somehow the sequel was leagues above even that book. You learn so much about the politics of this world in the first book, but the second is such an exciting and thrilling adventure. If it wasn't for my Lexapro I would have bawled in several places in this story. Alas, my Lexapro has a lockdown on my tears. 

The last line of the book?!? I read an ebook from the library, so my last line was italic. However, my partner read a Kindle version and the final line was in quotes. I checked a US hardback and it's in quotes too. This makes a huge difference in the ending, so I need to know why my copy was wrong!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, War, and Colonisation

Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse