Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long

24 reviews

anntharai's review

dark emotional 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

5.0

From start to finish I was hooked. I love the vividness of the characters and the harrowing plot. I feel the rage and the grief, the writing is that good. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Self harm, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail

The self harm tag refers to ritual bloodletting, but self administered and could well be upsetting for some readers.

macthekat's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

If you are interested in the ancient world and /or mythology then this is perfect!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Slavery

phiabia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Rape and War

darkefyres's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Grief and Religious bigotry

Minor: Sexism and Sexual assault

ka_ke's review against another edition

As intriguing as the story is, I found it too slow for my ADHD to truly enjoy and immerse myself in it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

owlphabetical's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Death

Minor: Slavery

midnightrose_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and War

forthesanityof1's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.5

Absolutely gorgeous debut! Loved every second of it. The premise was so interesting and, for once, Booktok did not let me down. Magic and gods and traitors and this wonderful thread woven through tight, fast-paced events and narration. I loved Hessa and her conflicts within herself and with others. She is a divine warrior but so painfully human in so many ways, it was delightful to see her journey. I loved the world building and the way the gods were introduced as they came. Some moments needed a bit more clarity, but nothing major and nothing that took me out of the story. I loved this idea of a faith that one loves and relishes in through community and power and love becoming a collar/shackle (literally) and how one may deal with that. Hessa's struggle with her faith and her ultimate rejection of it in the face of the truth was so perfectly done. I thought, if anything, the ending was a bit rushed. I would have liked one scene immediately post-epic climax to allow this real idea of change to drop from this lofty ideal into a tangible thing, but that's being nitpicky. I can't wait to see where this author takes it next!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death

Self harm warning is only for instances of the characters hurting themselves for sacrifice (slitting their palms, pricking their fingers, etc). Animal death is only for moments where an animal is sacrificed to a god.

maggiemillar's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Violence

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Slavery and Trafficking

samusc's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

5.0

 

This is fantasy at its absolute best.

H. M. Long, in her debut, has perfected the balance between writing intense battle scenes and tender human moments (braiding hair).

The scene at Oulden’s feet was phenomenal and the moment that solidified this as a 5 star read to me.

Long has created distinct pantheons of Gods that are warring with each other, while the people that worship them are also in combat. The magic system is unique and immersive. The Gods are all intimidating, and Hessa’s interactions with them kept me reading on into the night.

Throughout Hessa’s journey, she encountered many friends and foes, while navigating a brutal natural environment, as well as the trauma of losing most of her kin. These characters are multifaceted, and Ogam has one of the best character arcs I’ve seen in recent fantasy.

The conclusion is incredibly satisfying, and not rushed, the last act taking up I think 80/400 pages. 

I love the tagline of Hall of Smoke, To Err is Divine, and how this epic is built upon the impact of the decisions we make.

I’d recommend this to longtime fans and newcomers of fantasy alike, and especially fellow AC: Valhalla players.

 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Pregnancy