Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Tankeläsaren by Kristin Cashore

34 reviews

dreadspawn's review against another edition

adventurous 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

Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Child abuse

Minor: Sexual content, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment

aprilyang1's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

Wow. I can see why this book is so important to so many people! It feels very classic and timeless to me. I think it’s a great book for beginner fantasy readers (like myself 😃) because it was the perfect mix of simple and complex. While some parts could have been more intense, I had so much fun reading it!

I absolutely loved Katsa. She is a strong-willed individual who knows what she wants and doesn’t dismiss others for wanting something different, which is why I disagree with reviews calling her self-centered! She has endured years of abuse from her uncle and mistreatment from nearly everyone around her (except a few individuals). Outwardly, she appears strong but shows a lack of self-confidence when standing up to her uncle. Though she seems cold and mean, her kindness shows through in her interactions with people like Raffin and those who treat her like a human. She has had to pretend to be evil and menacing in order to survive. Her walls are high, but inside, she is sympathetic. I wholeheartedly loved her character.

I really appreciated Kristin Cashore’s take on choosing your own path. I admire how steadfast Katsa remained in her decisions despite VERY strong reasons, like Po 😏, that could have swayed her to give up on her freedom or her journey to find meaning. So, if anything the take away is… you don’t have to follow what everyone else is doing to be happy! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

lovemissjoan's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault

plumpeony's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Blood, Sexism, Bullying, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Stalking, Child abuse, Death, Grief, and Child death

Minor: Ableism, Abortion, Pedophilia, and Rape

katievallin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

Had a good start but got boring around halfway. Didn't really like the anti-marriage message. Katsa was entirely too good at all things, which made her and the plot boring. Also didn't really understand why she was so determined to help Bitterblue. And the climax was entirely anticlimactic. The world-building was a bit confusing, but that might've been because I listened to the audiobook, which wasn't very good (the full-cast version, at least).

I did like Bitterblue as a character, and I thought Katsa and Po's relationship was sweet.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Chronic illness, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death

Minor: Sexual harassment, Child death, Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Sexual content

noetical's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Blood, Grief, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Gore, Death, Murder, Vomit, and Violence

stolen_tangerine's review against another edition

adventurous 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Sexual content and Mental illness

lildawnprince'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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Blood

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

rafacolog's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, and Violence

beebeewin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-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

Upon re-reading I enjoyed this book as much as a remember! I appreciate Kristin Cashore's ability to write an engaging world with well fleshed out characters, especially in regards to Katsa. She creates morally complex characters with ease, and for a teen book doesn't shy away from having characters with motivations and dreams that might be different than in classical YA fiction. There is no pulled punches, which makes for a YA read that, at the time I first read it and even now, doesn't feel like someone dumbing down difficult topics for teens. My only issue is the main conflict seemed to resolve so quickly, like within one chapter. I almost wish that was just drawn out a little longer so that we could really see Katsa's growth and character development fleshed out more. Regardless, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, interesting, and engaging fantasy read. 

Also 100% Raffin and Bann are gay and you can't convince me otherwise, make it cannon!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Blood and Torture