Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

65 reviews

thoughtsontomes's review

dark mysterious 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

3.5

This was just fine. It felt like some of the elements could have been fleshed out a bit more and made amazing. I enjoyed the different perspectives we got as well as the setting but I don’t think this book will stand out in my memory over time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture

Moderate: Misogyny and Antisemitism

kittybeemartin's review

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? It's complicated

4.5

I waited a long time for this one to come into my arbitrary TBR queue. Listen, if Leigh Bardugo writes it, I’ll read it. I’ve read everything she’s written and I won’t stop now. 

I think people went into this one looking for the dynamic feel of SOC, but most of LB’s other books are much slower and darker. The Familiar is more in line with Ninth House and I think that probably threw people off. 
0.5🌶️

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Content Warnings

Minor: Antisemitism

adrienreads's review

dark informative 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

i need people to read this book b/c the last line made my heart sing but it's literally the last line so i cant talk to anyone about it :( anyway leigh bardugo does it AGAIN 10/10 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Misogyny, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual assault

gaky_m's review

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This was a very melancholy read for me. The book started off a little slow for my taste, but definitely picked up enough for me to enjoy it. I enjoyed the character development of both Luzia and Valentina, and I ADORED how the book ended. 

Finding an enjoyable and satisfying standalone novel nowadays is a rarity for me (I tend to accidentally start new series/trilogies all the time thinking they are standalones haha) and this one was a breath of fresh air in that regard! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Classism and Death of parent

public_nuisance's review

2.75

This book has a really interesting concept, but I took issue with many of the ways it was crafted.

1. I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. None of them particularly won me over or gave me reason to root for them. This was disappointing because you can tell the cast was carefully crafted, but I couldn't quite pin Luiza's personality down except for what's directly told to the reader.
2. This story reeks of a YA author dipping their toe into the world of adult fiction. The sex scenes were fine, but sometimes crass language was used at points where it weakened the scenes.
3. Spoilers:
   im personally just not the biggest fan of immortal x mortal, especially with how young Luiza was portrayed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Antisemitism, and Classism

stormeno's review

dark mysterious slow-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

Moderate: Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Blood, Mental illness, Gore, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

nicolewhopickedthisbook's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional slow-paced

3.0

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This book started off soooooooo boring and slow. I couldn’t tell who any of the characters names. It started getting interesting probably in the last 50 pages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Classism, Genocide, Hate crime, and Death

naluminum's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Torture, Sexual content, and Antisemitism

Minor: Blood

kristins3's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I typically prefer books set in the present or the future over the past, but Leigh Bardugo has a strong ability to pick non-standard fantasy settings and bring them to life with her creativity and world building

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and Violence

shamaramill's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Infertility, Religious bigotry, Vomit, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Torture, and Death