Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

6 reviews

sofipitch's review against another edition

adventurous slow-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

4.25

This was well written and entertaining, the characters and well written and interesting but it was very slow paced until 2/3rds of the way in where the storygraph description of the plot happen and that was just ok. But while I find the plot rushed and the conclusion not super interesting or meaningful there is something about the writing style and characters that really compelled me with this one. It reminded me a lot of Anne Rice's earlier work

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Classism

asteroideae's review

adventurous dark tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, Death, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, and Sexual content

glf's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

Probably the best book I've ever read. I think about it daily, reread it every year.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Self harm

Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual violence, and Alcoholism

cwu's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Death, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

winters's review

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Violence

nicnevin's review

adventurous mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

4.5

Someone - in a review elsewhere - described Swordspoint as being fantasy as written by Jane Austen. That is wholly accurate as the book concentrates on the political intrigues of an unnamed city - of nobles who hire swordsmen to fight their own grievances whilst the poor squat in abandoned townhouses. 

The world is richly described and the relationship between Alec and Richard is endearing. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Self harm, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence