Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

The Heroines by Laura Shepperson

12 reviews

alexis_baldwin92's review against another edition

challenging dark sad

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

poseidons_siren's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

While it isn't a "feminist tale" of the myth of Phaedra, i thought this was one of the most phenomenal books I have read all year and likely will read all year. 

The author is clearly very well-versed on mythology and the different versions, as well as ancient Greek society and culture. The proper pronunciation being used in the audiobook was such a breath of fresh air. The story of Phaedra was never a happy one and I was insanely impressed in the way Shepperson intertwined many different versions and points of view of the myths into the dialogue between characters. While, yes, she did have some creative freedoms with the retelling, what author doesn't? I enjoyed her take on the myth greatly.

This book made me feel so seen and validated, and when you suffer what Phaedra did (in the book, not the myth, because there is a lot of different versions there) you just want to know that you aren't alone and that some sort of justice is enacted, however positive or negative the ending was for you, that's really up to the reader, in my opinion. But without giving away anything else, I loved this book. I think that the low ratings aren't really doing it justice and when you look at it more through the lens of myth interpretation, it works so much better. 

TL;DR, read the myth, go in blind to the book, ancient feminine rage will ensue. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide and Sexual harassment

carriemae's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

3.25

The author jumped from character to character a lot, making it difficult to follow. Over all, interesting take on this story.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment

acrosstheskyinstars's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. I'm the first person to love a feminist myth retelling. The point of view shifting so frequently hindered the book in my opinion. It made it hard for me to feel truly connected to any of the characters. Don't get me wrong. I love a Greek tragedy, which this certainly is and I knew that going in. But the tone of this book was very dark, so definitely be warned that the subject matter is heavy. I preferred the book Ariadne by Jennifer Saint and Ariadne Unraveled by Zenobia Neil. Both of those were 5 star reads for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

faith_d's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, and Sexual harassment

coffeekitaab's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

This was a pretty heavy read... 

I haven't read Greek mythology since school and have always wanted to read more as an adult. This has been the first opportunity I had in a long time and I found I was still as interested and had never come across the story of Theseus, Phaedra and Hippolytus. 
Trigger warnings should be checked.

I really enjoyed the story being told from the perspective of the female characters, and the author did well to commit to the different narratives. I do feel it was weak for a novel that is set out as a "feminist retelling". The characters are helpless before the dominating males and, even the goddesses seem subjected to their violence and treachery. I felt uncomfortable at how explicit the description of male harassment, violence etc was so trigger warnings flagged here. 

My only other gripe is at times there was an assumption that the reader was well versed on the different myths which left the writing hanging to your the reader's imagination. Of course that does not work unless you know the tales, so I lost myself in these moments and found it a bit frustrating. This was a 3.5* for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

i did really like the storytelling and overall writing. however, i felt like there were some characters that were never really flushed out, some weird dialogue, and it overall just felt a little unrefined i guess. the ending was really good though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

anapthine's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.0

 Thank you Net Galley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2023, especially due to my love for Greek Mythology, however it did not live up to my expectations. Whilst the writing, overall, was good, the characters felt very 2-dimensional and it was very difficult to form a connection with them. At times the plot felt rushed and disjointed, and it felt like there were parts missing that could have really added to the storyline. I didn’t really find the characters likeable, they seemed distant in a way. When comparing this with similar fiction that retell this myth, it fell short of the sheer genius that they all seemed to have. I did find this easy to read, and at times it was mildly enjoyable. I am gutted to be writing such a negative review as I really wanted to like this.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

maggiemercutio's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

A dark feminist retelling of not only Thesus and the Minotaur but as well as Pheadra and Hippolytus. I can see what the author was shooting for but it did not quite hit for me and more or less just left me feeling empty. Too many povs, and with them being first person pov they all sounded too similar to the point where I would forget who's pov i was reading because reading wise they felt interchangeable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, and Sexual harassment

mtnest's review against another edition

dark sad 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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit and War