Reviews tagging 'Transphobia'

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by

81 reviews

readsforlove's review against another edition

4.5

My first question is why are more people not talking about this amazing book? I found it on Audible recs of all places after searching for a similar book to A Taste of Gold and Iron and was quickly swept away. Velasin and Caethari are ... wow. Like. This book is the arranged marriage trope, and while being an asexual makes this concept feel truly straight from a horror novel, the tenderness with which it happened in this book was just so so good. I'm having trouble finding words. They were each so tender and sweet and kind to each other, and there was no unnecessary drama, which I'd honestly been expecting. While things were by no means easy between them, they each went into the situation with grace, care, and honesty, despite there being ample opportunity to create drama. But they were both so refreshingly mature and sweet about everything, it makes me want to dive right back in for a reread from cover to cover. 

Instead, I'm diving right into book 2, and I predict I will have the worst book hangover ever when I'm through. 

Please do be sure to check content warnings before going into this novel though!! Very heavy topics are addressed and depicted on page, and while it's done with care, it's still important to go into the novel consciously. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity and Vomit

xandry's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, and Xenophobia

seashel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A wonderful husbands-to-friends-to-lovers 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime, Sexism, Medical content, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Torture, Transphobia, Abandonment, and Classism

stormcatt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm and Violence

Minor: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Transphobia

reellyfish's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.5

I really liked the story and the characters. Absolutely loved Markel. I also enjoyed the dark themes (TW) of rape, SH, and suicidal ideation and the effects of those.

There was a typo saying “What I have I done?” during quite an intense scene that kinda took me out scene but I was still able to understand what was trying to be said.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity

pretzel_witch's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism

bespectacled_lemur's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

xenawl's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Holy gods I love this book and am about to start it for the second time! Psychologically very real, and one of the most sensitive and in-depth portrayals of sexual violence and the resulting trauma that I’ve come across. 

Although at times I want to shake both Vel and Cae for their inability to communicate, I also hard relate and want to hug them both. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Infidelity and Transphobia

lalesbianlune's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was very compelling, but slightly hard to read. The trigger warnings should be paid close attention to as the book not only includes but focuses on hard topics. The friendship between Markel and Velasin was definitely my favorite part, although I’m always a fan of a gay arranged marriage. I did guess the plot twist/villain, but still thought it was fairly well done. I wish the ending felt less rushed, but overall an intriguing read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Transphobia and Abandonment

Graphic depictions of the aftermath of rape; moderately graphic depictions of burning and branding.

felixmarauder's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

I loved this book so much! While there are some heavy subject matters, the main focus is this beautiful love story between two very loveable characters. Not to mention the queer and Trans representation is prevalent and so well done. I raced through this book in 2.5 days and couldnt wait to rush to the sequel. No notes, 5+ stars!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Vomit