Military Violence & War Themes – Page 21

Song of Blood and Stone by L Penelope

Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope

The kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar have been separated for centuries by the Mantle, a magical veil that has enforced a tremulous peace between the two lands. But now, the Mantle is cracking and the True Father, ruler of Lagrimar and the most powerful Earthsinger in the world, finally sees a way into Elsira to seize power. All Jasminda ever wanted was to live quietly on her farm, away from the prying eyes of those in the nearby town. Branded an outcast by the colour of her skin and her gift of Earthsong, she’s been shunned all her life and has learned to steer clear from the townsfolk until a group of Lagrimari sold… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Racism
Attempted rape
Threats of rape
War themes

The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield

The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield

From internationally bestselling astronaut Chris Hadfield comes an exceptional Cold War thriller from the dark heart of the Space Race. As Russian and American crews sprint for a secret bounty hidden away on the Moon’s surface, old rivalries blossom and the political stakes are stretched to breaking point back on Earth. Houston flight controller Kazimieras ‘Kaz’ Zemeckis must do all he can to keep the NASA crew together while staying one step ahead of his Soviet rivals. But not everyone on board Apollo 18 is quite who they appear to be. Full of the fascinating… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Graphic eye trauma
Murder
Stabbing
Gun violence
Explosion
Plane & helicopter crash
Drowning
Cold War

Wait for Me by Caroline Leech

Wait for Me by Caroline Leech

It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country? But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, she feels herself changing. The more she learns about him—from his time in the war to his life back home in Germany—the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. Soon Lorna is battling her… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Sexual assault
War camps & prisoners of war
World War Two (theme)

A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

In 1982, Evelyn’s daughter, Jackie, is a frazzled single mother grappling with her absent husband’s drug addiction. Just as she comes to terms with his abandoning the family, he returns, ready to resume their old life. Jackie must decide if the promise of her husband is worth the near certainty he’ll leave again. Jackie’s son, T.C., loves the creative process of growing marijuana more than the weed itself. He finds something hypnotic about training the seedlings, testing the levels, trimming the leaves, and drying the buds. He was a square before Hurricane Katrina, but the New Orleans he knew didn’t survive the… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Ableism
Racism
Fatmisia & body shaming
Domestic violence
Substance addiction
War themes

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

The elves come for two things: war and wives. In both cases, they come for death. Three thousand years ago, humans were hunted by powerful races with wild magic until the treaty was formed. Now, for centuries, the elves have taken a young woman from Luella’s village to be their Human Queen. To be chosen is seen as a mark of death by the townsfolk. A mark nineteen-year-old Luella is grateful to have escaped as a girl. Instead, she’s dedicated her life to studying herbology and becoming the town’s only healer. That is, until the Elf King unexpectedly arrives, for her… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Child neglect recounted
Forced marriage
Sibling with substance addiction
Drug use & abuse discussed
Alcohol consumption, on-page
Pregnancy mentioned
Heart disease & other chronic illnesses mentioned
Murder & attempted murder
Attempted kidnapping
War & rebellion discussed

Earth’s End by Elise Kova

Earth’s End by Elise Kova

A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood. Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Alcoholism
Knife violence
Poisoning
War themes & battle scenes

The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

1943: Tucked away in the idyllic hills south of Florence, the Rosatis, an Italian family of noble lineage, believe that the walls of their ancient villa will keep them safe from the war raging across Europe. Eighteen-year-old Cristina spends her days swimming in the pool, playing with her young niece and nephew, and wandering aimlessly amid the estate’s gardens and olive groves. But when two soldiers, a German and an Italian, arrive at the villa asking to see an ancient Etruscan burial site, the Rosatis’ bucolic tranquillity is shattered. A young German lieutenant begins to court Cristina, the Nazis descend upon the estate demanding… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Antisemitism & Nazism
Murder of a sister-in-law
World War Two

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

So begins Kaikeyi’s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear. Desperate… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Misogyny & sexism
Classism
Domestic abuse
Pregnancy & childbirth
Infertility
Murder
Fire
Animal death
War themes & battle scenes

The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson

The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson

Princess Thia, her allies, and her crow, Res, are planning a rebellion to defeat Queen Razel and Illucia once and for all. Thia must convince the neighbouring kingdoms to come to her aid, and Res’s show of strength is the only thing that can help her. But so many obstacles stand in her way. Res excels at his training, until he loses control of his magic, harming Thia in the process. She is also pursued by Prince Ericen, heir to the Illucian throne and the one person she can’t trust but can’t seem to stay away from. As the rebel group prepares for war, Res’s magic grows more unstable. Thia has to decide if she can rely on herself and their… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Coming out themes
Depression
Nightmares
Blood & gore depiction
Physical injuries
Death of a brother mentioned
Murder & attempted murder
Fire
Whipping mentioned
War (central theme)

The Cloak Society by Jeramey Kraatz

The Cloak Society by Jeramey Kraatz

The Cloak Society: An elite organization of supervillains graced with extraordinary powers. Ten years ago the Cloak Society was defeated by Sterling City’s superheroes, the Rangers of Justice, and vanished without a trace. But the villains have been waiting for the perfect moment to resurface Twelve-year-old Alex Knight is a dedicated junior member of Cloak who has spent years mastering his telekinetic superpowers and preparing for the day when Cloak will rise to power again. Cloak is everything he believes in… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

Gun violence
Bank robbery & hostage situation
Battle scenes