Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

19 reviews

jmelauren's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, and Murder

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense 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

This book starts off so strong. Alessandra is the second daughter of an earl looking to gain power and acknowledgement by marrying the Shadow King, Kallias. The problem? She plans to kill him right after. Alessandra is cunning, vicious, manipulative, and talented in many ways. I think the general plot was so fun! I love a good murderess and mystery. Alessandra is fun to read as well with all her inner monologue and complex feelings about people. My issues with this book stem from development (or lack thereof). To me, Alessandra and the world building feel underdeveloped. Alessandra is supposed to be this devious murderess with this plot, but her idea is quite literally just to poison him and hope the blame gets placed on a neighboring kingdom. Also past the first few chapters she doesn't seem very murder prone. I think her initial characterization was much more interesting than what we were left with. My other issue stems from world building. In terms of kingdoms and the country laws we are never given any explanations. This leaves me at a loss at times for why things are the way they are politically. I think this book could definitely benefit from some elaboration and possibly a different ending? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kate_arts's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I think the premise is fun. Alessandra, I think, is a hard character to like. She is a strong female character and is in tune with her sexuality and is all for the rights of women. However, she’s very much a ‘not like other girls’ girl. She constantly has to be one step ahead of everyone but in an annoying way. That’s not to say that she doesn’t bring up some important points and if you’re going to add sexism to your fantasy world at least let there be people that think it’s wrong.

I do appreciate how the author gives her challenges through out the story that feel realistic. Like her ex being manipulative or her not figuring out that what’s his face is the king’s brother.

 

In the dedication of the book the author says this is a Slytherin Romance. Because of this I kept envisioning Kallias as a dark Harry Potter. Which was at best funny and at worst distracting. Honestly if you read fan fiction you’ll be able to stomach this book. It’s definitely an ok romantasy book. I’ve definitely read worse. I think my biggest gripe is that the author repeatedly addresses the sexism in the fantasy world but actively portrays the classism and xenophobic in the book as a good thing. And like yeah these people are running a kingdom that has conquered a lot of the surrounding kingdoms so like if the shoe fits, but sometimes it was hard to stomach. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail

fernash's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexism

katvou's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

headinthepages's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

I so enjoyed reading about Allessandra - a fiery independent murdress, and a shadow king brought together.

I loved the story and loved the romance and could happily read an entire series about these characters!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

brookey8888's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I really enjoyed this! I really love the main characters she was probably my favorite part of the book. She was just so strong and unapologetic which I just loved. The romance was cute. I also really enjoyed the friendship aspect of this. The plot was interesting but wasn’t my favorite I just really like the characters and the relationships. I also liked the feminist tones of this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

haley49's review against another edition

adventurous

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

4.0

The characters are bad people but you still root for them??? They are casually down with murder and classism but are kind of feminists so it’s okay??? 
My feelings on the main characters are mixed but I loved them evolving  together and realizing how alike they were, The pace felt natural and the story was interesting. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Classism

Minor: Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

siglerbooknook's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

b_robinson's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

1.75

ugghhhhhhhhh I was in pain during every single second of this ridiculous book.

I don't get it. Why is there SO MUCH HYPE??? WHAT IS THERE TO LOVE????
"it's a slytherin romance", yeah sure, a SHITTY ONE
"alessandra is a feminist icon", a completely insufferable and unloveable one, naturally

you know that something has gone terribly wrong when you're glad that the MC's plan falls apart :(

She was so goddamn WHINY and SNOOTY and ENTIRELY UP HERSELF; this girl was in desperate need of a reality check, something that this entire novel is disappointingly lacking. Where was the world? Where was the development?? Couldn't I have a single likeable character that wasn't a dog???

Why were we all for ~equality~ and ~dismantling the patriarchy~ until we weren't talking about the nobility? Why does the peasantry get looked down upon, as if they don't deserve these same rights?? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

I've already spent way too much energy on this story, and I'm so excited to mark it as finished, and I hope I never have to think about it again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail