Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

104 reviews

lelodo13's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book reminds me of an epic poem. Every line is carefully crafted to convey such raw pain, beauty, horrors, and love. 
This book was recommended to me so I didn't fully know what I was getting into. The story has supernatural elements that act as a coping mechanism for the main character. 
I would highly recommend this book. 

*listened to audiobook narrated by the author through Everand

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

lfl's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Absolutely beautiful writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

ahegs's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I struggled to follow some of the magical realism at times, but this is a hauntingly well-written book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Torture, Vomit, and Trafficking

Minor: Rape

jesstaurant's review against another edition

emotional 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Vomit, Trafficking, and Grief

amandaacat's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

1.0

I could not get behind this book and only kept reading for the sake of the book club I’m in. I did not like the writing style and would have preferred the story without the supernatural elements. It’s a tough read, with the story being about a girl sold into slavery and her experiences, however I found the spirits in the book distracting and would have rather just her story on its own. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

kshertz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This was so deep and hard and sad. It’s just a realistic look at the horrors of slavery combined with what might have been. It was hard to be in this headspace for too long, but it’s definitely beautifully written 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

lucygibbons22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

While the overall plot was very good and Annis was such a great character, there were many parts that were very confusing and hard to follow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Slavery

Minor: Rape

napathetic's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Slavery

saffista's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Grief

rachreadshella's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, and Violence