Reviews tagging 'War'

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie

15 reviews

dreamerfreak's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Cursing, Death of parent, Violence, Gun violence, Grief, Colonisation, Genocide, Alcohol, and War

kell_xavi's review against another edition

adventurous dark

2.0

The first half was exciting and politically intriguing, the second half was full of absurd coincidence and moral flip-flopping with little critical nuance, which resolved into a book I didn’t want or enjoy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death of parent

luxluthors's review

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide, War, Violence, Blood, and Gun violence

Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Panic attacks/disorders

mallorypen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

First of all, let the record show that I CALLED THE PLOT TWIST at 48% of the way through the read. Anyways, bragging aside, this was a tightly-plotted, action-packed and utterly heartbreaking space opera of a novel. The reader was exemplary as well, making an overall really fantastic experience with this story.

The world building was phenomenal. I understood the power structure, the politics, and the knife’s edge on which peace existed within the first few chapters without it feeling like I was being info-dumped upon. The queernormative society was well done without being heavy-handed, and I believed all the motivations of the people and governments in the plot.

The characters are SO clutch. Ettian as a tortured product of war, poverty, homelessness and conquest was compelling, especially as his loyalties and his heart are being chipped away the entire novel. I wanted to give him a hug approximately 456 times. Gal - boisterous, naive, tender hearted Gal - was a great counterpart and match for Ettian. Their friendship was immediately believable, as was the strength of Ettian’s feelings despite everything he’s been through. And Wen as the hardened, ride-or-die misfit was the perfect foil for Ettian and a window into his life. 

The only reason I took off half a star is ALSO one of the reasons I enjoyed the book so much, and that is because of the humanity of the characters. On the one hand, I got a little fed up with Ettian’s loyalties constantly flip-flopping around - one second he was promising he’s always have Gal’s back, and the next he’s dreaming of revolution - but I have to admit that his being so torn is such a human reaction to an impossible situation. And Gal going from being incredibly likable to borderline hard to deal with was hard as an empathetic reader, but also … that’s EXACTLY what Ettian was going through. So yay, writing characters with nuance and skill to make them feel real but ALSO boo, real-feeling people making dumb/selfish/cowardly choices.

But hey, cuddling in space. 

Onto Book 2!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Violence, Death of parent, Vomit, and Death

stailysh1's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted 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

This book is almost exactly what I thought it would be.  It is a fun adventure reminiscent of Star Wars but with a slight romantic bend.  The main problem with the book is that there is a shocking lack of chemistry between two people who are supposed to be in love and I don't buy the romance.  The space politics and history are a bit flat.  For some reason, being the blood heir is super meaningful across very different parts of the galaxy and everyone just buys into it.  Coincidence drives the story forward too many times.  Despite these major issues, the book kept me interested and engaged and it was a fast read.  It was exciting enough that its flaws, which should majorly lower its rating, just don't bother me that much.  This book enchanted me and I plan to read the sequels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide and Colonisation

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and War

Minor: Alcohol and Blood

axel_p's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense

• 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, War, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship

judassilver's review against another edition

adventurous medium-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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, War, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Genocide

puttingwingsonwords's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

Bonds of Brass had me staying up past my bedtime because I just wanted to keep reading. At times, especially near the end, I felt like I was helplessly watching the characters putting themselves on an inevitable path to devastation… In a good way?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol

breadwitchery's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Gun violence

Minor: Alcohol and Blood

kew16's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Death

Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder