Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - Das Reich der sieben Höfe - Flammen und Finsternis

Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Das Reich der sieben Höfe - Flammen und Finsternis by Sarah J. Maas

112 reviews

eja336's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.75

IMO, *the* blueprint for enemies to lovers and strong female MC. SJM knows how to write the perfect male love interest and I love her for it.

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ashley_mrose530's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

I thought this book was done so well and I even liked it better than the first one! The PTSD and Feyre's struggle with it was amazing. I loved watching her grow despite that and taking steps to overcome it.
I hated how Tamlin treated her. I know he probably has his own PTSD that he was dealing with, but he should have opened up to her, comforted her when she needed it and given her the opportunity to comfort him in return.

Instead he shut her out and locked her up and I completely supported her decision to leave him after that.
And the love grew so slowly and beautifully between her and Rhys. I absolutely loved watching them fall for each other. And I loved that you could already see everything that he truly was even in the first book. I thought it was completely obvious that he wasn't a villain and I'm so glad that I was right. And the spicy scenes between them were actually really good in this book! I can see now why Maas decided to write that way when it was Tamlin: it was suppose to help convey that he wasn't really the one she was supposed to be with.

The only downside to this was probably the plot. I'm not sure how Hybern fits into this from the first book. He kind of seemed to come out of nowhere for this book, which is probably more of a problem from the first book of not mentioning him and his importance sooner, but either way. Now I know the rest of the series is going to be dealing with him but I wish the first book would have brought that in somewhere so we weren't blindsided by it in this one.
Finally, that ending was so surprising. I had no idea what was going to happen.

I guessed that the human queens would try to ally with Hybern but I never realized that they would bring Feyre's sisters into it and turn them into fae, that Tamlin would betray her and ally with Hybern as well (even though I knew he would become a pawn opposing them somehow), or that Feyre would end up going back to the Spring Court undercover.

It was all a whirlwind for sure and I'm excited to see what happens next!

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cuddleemily's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

3.75

Better than the first book - took me maybe after the first 150 pages where I was like "maybe this series could be good" and was pleasantly pleased as I read more. Very gripping in parts and would recommend if you're fine with the beginning being a bit drab. 3.75 stars due to the fact it took me 1 full book and 150 pages before I started iking the series. Would recommend though, very fantasy oriented!

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niarfodnof's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

Somehow I continue to be surprised by where the author takes us and the characters. This book was an absolute pleasure to read from beginning to end. It is packed full of action, interesting characters, dynamic relationships, and surprises. Already ordered the last 3 books in the series because I have to know how this all ends!

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graceskate's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Was not expecting to like this as much as I did. The characterization of one character in particular

(Tamlin)

dramatically changes from the first book. I think the second and third books in this series work very well together but are sort of disconnected from the first book.

If there had been bigger red flags with Tamlin in the first book or moments where the mask slipped a bit him turning into an abusive prick would have made more sense. Book 1 Tamlin and Book 2 + 3 Tamlin are very different characters and makes the first book feel disconnected. I like book 1 on it’s own and I like books 2 and 3 together but when you put the whole series together the jump between 1 and 2 doesn’t really make sense.

Besides that I enjoyed the books if you can pretend

Tamiln was showing more signs of being abusive in the first book and accept that you aren’t really going to see his character develop in that direction

then it’s pretty good.

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pandalesque's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

3.5

I enjoyed listening to the first and second book via audiobook. I think the narrator did a good job. Though like every time with audiobooks and with a single narrator, It isn't always clear who talkes or within a chapter if we're still in the same paragraph/timeline or even location. Sometimes I felt not having a map or the names of characters or things in this fantasy world were a little disadvantageous but I could easily search for it online. So all in all I can recommend the audiobook.

+

I like S.J.M.'s descriptions of cities, landscapes and clothes
I think the basis/premise of the world is very interesting
I enjoy fantasy stories where the MCs train and get to know their powers like in this story and I enjoy the fight scenes
I do like that the focus is on different relationships (friendships and romantic – found family)
I am invested enough to be curious how the story continues/I want to finish the series
I liked that they flirted via letters/texts (kinda made it feel a little 21st century)

Not a fan of her endings until now
Though I liked the descriptions it is a long ass book.
maybe I'm not getting it but sometimes I don't believe the threads of some plots come together so that they "make sense" to me. Sometimes I got confused by the world building or the magic system rules or the change in behavior or descriptions of creatures.
-> Either I don't get it but mostly I feel like I notice how she introduces/ changes certain characters, plot points to get the story where she wants to. But I don't feel like it's quite built in nicely/naturally which takes me out of the story.
- Why do girls already mature with 14 like humans even though they're faey?
  How they age and their development stages are confusing
especially the end and the cauldron and book story seems so weird and inconsistent...
... also that the solution seems to be her giving herself up to Tamlin again? I don't get it tbh (for the advancement of the plot and character yes but again, felt the execution lacked)
the trials with the weaver, bone carver, orbe... don't seem very necessary, also the reasons behind why they encountered them are more than a little weak /not natural, except to further the romance/character development get the story where she wants
Very cringe at times, mostly concerning the romance plot(s)/wording (but I have that with pretty much any romance)
Sometimes they say: "that's his/her story to tell..." other times people go in depths about trauma's others have endured...
Less spice than advertised
very fast character development/pivots:
Don't think the whole "Tamlin turning bad"-storyline is convincing enough for me and he seems dafter, also ....not necessary. I can imagine maybe the author wanted to create a situation where the readers may reflect in the sense of: "everybody could end up in a abusive relationship", "people can change", "people aren't what they seem"... I can appreciate that.... Or maybe it's just so we automatically "ship" the new couple. but I believe it could be told more convincingly.
Feyre herself...