Literary Fiction
The Shadow of the Torturer
1980·303 pages
Young Severian, an apprentice torturer on Urth, is exiled for showing mercy and begins a dark journey beyond his city.
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Young Severian, an apprentice torturer on Urth, is exiled for showing mercy and begins a dark journey beyond his city.
About
Details
The Shadow of the Torturer is the first volume in the four-volume series, The Book of the New Sun. It is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession -- showing mercy toward his victim -- and follows subsequent journey out of his home city of Nessus.
What's Inside
will contain mild spoilers
Romance & sex
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Moderate sexual content with some explicit scenes, though not frequent. Or implied sexual threats, not graphically depicted.
Violence & gore
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Extreme violence and torture; graphic depictions central to the protagonist's role.
Profanity
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Minor use of strong language, not a dominant feature.
Substance use
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Minor references to alcohol or drugs, not central to the narrative.
LGBTQ+ Rep.
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No evidence found in available sources.
Religious content
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Moderate religious themes with some ritualistic elements in the world-building.
Magic & witchcraft
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Moderate fantasy magic with occult undertones in the setting.
Occult / demonology
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Occult elements present as part of the fantasy magic system.
Political content
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Moderate political themes tied to societal structure and power dynamics.
Self-harm / suicide
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No evidence found in available sources.
Abuse & suffering
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Major themes of systemic cruelty and suffering due to the torturer's guild. Or implied sexual threats, not graphically depicted.
Other
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No information found.