Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

25 reviews

smuttymcbookface's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

There was a lot to love about this, and some things I didn't like so much.

The darkness of the world-building was great, and it was nice that this had a vampire-human romance that did not romanticise vampirism. I loved the "in-between" chapters which gave extra information. The length of them was perfect so that you didn't feel like you were being pulled away from the story.

There was something very compelling and relatable about Tana and Aiden. It was nice to see through the "cool although kid" mask into the real fear of not fitting in and not finding yourself. Although I found it a little annoying that everyone was alt, it did make the world-building more fun.

I liked that Tana wasn't a Mary Sue; she made so many mistakes, and kept going back and forgiving people she really shouldn't have.

I love how the story unravelled, with more and more slowly revealed. However, I did not like the final climax,

and that she went dancing with her 12 year old sister and friends directly afterwards as if nothing had happened and she wasn't traumatised from parties or in the process of turning?

I did like the final chapter though.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, and Self harm

Moderate: Torture and Grief

vexatiousbird's review

adventurous dark funny tense fast-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? No

4.0

Solid YA - good appealing world building, clever and fun read, classic vampire swoons. Believable teenage stupidity and the right dash of courage for a hero. Lots of grey morality.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent and Gore

Minor: Drug use, Torture, and Suicide

wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Medical content, Animal death, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Classism, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Child death, Death, Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Cannibalism, Addiction, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Dysphoria, Gore, Murder, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Torture, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence

laurenevlyn's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-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

5.0

One of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read. I’m in awe at Holly Black and her ability to create such complex characters and stories. This books was as much a commentary on society and romanticization as it was a story. I loved both aspects of it. I believe I may be thoroughly in love with both Tana and Gavriel. Speaking of, I also adored how Tana got shit done. She had such reasonable thought processes and the kind of common sense that is rare among YA protagonists. All in all, an incredible book!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Torture, Gore, Death of parent, Murder, Child death, Confinement, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gun violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness

Minor: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

laurenlreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Blood

Moderate: Torture, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, Grief, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Cannibalism, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, and Torture

Moderate: Confinement, Abandonment, Suicide, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Animal cruelty, Police brutality, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body horror, Animal death, Body shaming, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

breadwitchery's review

adventurous medium-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? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Gore, Torture, and Suicide

Minor: Vomit, Misogyny, Infidelity, Alcohol, Self harm, and Gun violence

christinakann's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Death of parent

irenr's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Murder, and Death of parent

cait's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Addiction, Confinement, Drug use, Gore, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Murder, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent