Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Book of Night (B&N Exclusive Edition) by Holly Black

33 reviews

the_book_files_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

I really enjoyed the writing in this book but my only problem is that the plot was so slow that it didn’t really feel like there was one at all so I overall found it an ok book as I didn’t dislike but I wasn’t in love either. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Drug use, Murder, and Torture

luckykosmos's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

This one was a miss. A friend told me that it was originally meant to be from Vince's point of view, and given how things progressed, I think that would have been preferable. Things just happened to Charlie rather than her being active in them, so much of the plot was being explained to her as it happened. And as interested as the concept of the magic was, I'm left with such an unclear idea of how it works - you draw from your shadow and use it to enact violence, but also one person could make it into a sword? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Drug use

qilsu's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Drug use, Murder, and Violence

martharosen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Blood and Violence

Minor: Sexual content, Drug use, Murder, Alcohol, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

readwithria's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

Book of Night was disappointing until the last fifty pages, but once it hit its stride I couldn’t put it down.

I really wasn’t vining with the writing style for the first 70-80% of this book, but the climactic scenes were quite a wild ride. With books this short I usually with there had been more, but with Book of Night I actually think it could have been shorter. The beginning really dragged, the main plot didn’t seem to start until about 50% of the way through the book, and the magic system doesn’t really get explored until even later. The concept is cool, but the execution was lacking.

I will likely read the sequel from the library, but this book won’t be getting added to my personal collection. 3 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Gun violence, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation

queenstaves'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

4.0

The worldbuilding feels natural and textured. The characters feel real and complex. The story is engaging emotionally and in terms of action, while allowing for the reader to allow down and process. The foreshadowing is excellent, and even I "called" the ending, I was still surprised and satisfied, like I solved a puzzle instead of predicting a story. 

I am so in love with the protagonists. I'm very excited for the second in this duology. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Drug use, and Incest

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

I did put a warning for inc3st because one antagonist has an unhealthy love for a relative and it's not gratuitious but it's also not dealt with in a way where it feels like a necessary plot point. It explains an obsession but its narratively underdeveloped and that makes it stand out in a way that feels like it's not treated the most appropriately. The protagonist is trained by an adult but nothing physically/sexually abusive happens. There are people who think that it happens, and that is talked about. Two protagonists are drugged, as well as one supporting character. There are mentions of characters that we never meet struggling with addiction, and having addiction being used as a manipulation tactic. There are family dynamics of abandonment and abuse. Ultimately, the content comes across as being a natural complex part of the world and dealt with in a way that feels real to the tone and plot, and not used as "edgy" flavor.

cgp1234's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.5

A fun ride, but I wanted more from Holly Black's first foray into adult fantasy. The world building felt incomplete, the characters felt a little flat, and the mystery didn't get really excited until the last 20% of the book. I'm hoping the sequel will be better! Also, I'm gong to need authors to stop using

incest

as a plot device.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Body horror, Death, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Drug use and Incest

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

Really interesting premise for a story. Fantasy with a badass, curvy, female protagonist who is a little rough around the edges but sharp as a tack. I’m excited for the second one…in 2024. Really starting to get into fantasy stuff more and more. Will also be checking out this author’s other books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Classism, Confinement, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Child abuse

zzaakkiiyyaa's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.5

Too many one dimensional characters. Disappointing writing in parts. Strange pacing. Zero character development. Great concept that could’ve been done really well but sadly wasn’t. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Blood

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Addiction, Sexual content, and Gun violence

maregred's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Blood, Alcohol, Gore, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Drug use

Minor: Incest, Sexual content, and Abandonment