Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

23 reviews

doahdancer's review

dark emotional 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

This is going to be my dark horse of 2024. I was expecting only 25% of the amazing story that was delivered. This has epic enemies to lovers, amazing plot twists, yearning, spice, a well designed magic system... when a reviewer I trust DNF'd this book I seriously questioned if I should bother, but as usual, letting myself make up my own mind was the best choice.

Hard disagree with this being labeled YA. This is solidly NA as the themes are intense. Mind the TWs, but barring those, run, don't walk, to read this book.

Sequel coming Feb 2025.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Child death

caitlinspeachyreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I struggled to put this book down, I wanted to read it at every free second! I will be thinking of the characters a lot, ugh hurry up February 2025….

I cannot think properly after that ending….what, why, how? I guessed the big twist, but there are clues throughout the book. Now I have to wait 7-8 months to find out what happens…

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Slavery, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Torture, and Rape

kteliza28's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The plot of the story- mortal enemies knowingly using each other, trying to outwit the other for their own gain- is one I enjoyed. I like that both Gideon and Rune were equally sly and cunning. I had more love for Gideon and his back story than Runes though. By the end of the book, with the the chaos and twists, I was beginning to side more and more with Gideon, which is maybe the way it is supposed to be set up for the next book. As a reader, I was left feeling torn about how I should feel.

The loss of Alex was emotional and kind of made me hate Rune. I felt like his death was directly her fault. He’s giving Tamlin vibes a little from how much he desired her and it wasn’t fully returned but he felt he should have her.
I was suspicious of Verity early on but did not expect her to be Cressida. That was a good twist. 
I feel like I’m missing some backstory with Gideon and Laila. Their connection seems stronger than just basically co-workers.
The disdain between Gideon and Rune could also use more backstory. I also feel they fell for each other too easily.

I do wish there was more connection I felt to Rune as a reader. I want to root for her but I often wasn’t. Because there is no resolve in this book, I am curious about the next. 
I really don’t know how I feel about the period blood usage to cast spells but alright hahaha.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Gore and Torture

pkm48's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, Murder, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Blood, Child death, and Gun violence

Minor: Cursing, Suicide, and Torture

saretta02's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Torture, Grief, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

dcnireads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture

Moderate: Genocide, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Slavery, Addiction, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and War

Minor: Misogyny

kirsty_irwin's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Genocide, Murder, Religious bigotry, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Violence

Moderate: Violence, Torture, Outing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Self harm, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault

dani_reis's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

This is NOT YA. Stop trying to normalize sexual content in YA.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Torture, Blood, Classism, Death, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Minor: Self harm and Fire/Fire injury

alibubba's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Torture, and Violence

also_micah's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and Death

Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Torture, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and War