Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

32 reviews

sistersula's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Abortion

siobhanward's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

This has been on my TBR long enough that I fully forgot what this was about, so it was a fun surprise to read it and find out. This book had a really solid premise but I wish the execution had been stronger. The cursed boarding school, the Hollywood chaos, there was so much good stuff in the book, but it went on for too long. I liked the characters and the story well enough, but it felt like there was a lot of filler. I really liked the modern day plot, and the 1902 plot was a good idea, but it felt muddled. Too much was happening and there was no real focus.

Anyway, all that being said, Danforth is incredibly creative and I look forward to reading more from her down the road. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Drug use and Sexism

celery's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ferns_citruscorner_8's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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

3.75

I have such a love and hate relationship with this book. I love the writing style and the language, by God, I truly do. I’m also amazed at this book for being my first book with polyamorous characters in it! I’m personally aroace and find it at times very discomforting (a lot of horny-ness), but loved the ending! Sometimes, one of the characters get so fecken annoying and edge-lordy, but I’m glad I decided on reading through. I’d recommend this to people who like long books with hella queerness in it. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content

Minor: Fatphobia, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

pjdotcom's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

sauvageloup's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

3.0

glad to have read this, because the concept is fresh and interesting, and I need to read more wholly sapphic books. but it tried to do too much and didnt pull it off.
this review on tumblr by flying-elliska has all my thoughts well said:
https://www.tumblr.com/flying-elliska/672822130083233792/and-now-for-sapphic-reads-time-the-sequel-tm?source=share

pros:
- the setting was a fleshed out character in itself and I loved that. the orchard apples, the tower, the orangerie, the beach, etc.
- I liked the story of the original woman, simone, who lived on the land.
- some imagery was definitely creepy and disturbing, especially eating wasps.
- the main characters were interesting, and I liked that they became a poly triad rather than a love triangle.

cons:
- too many characters, too much rambling, too meta, too plotty and just too long.
- I never really got truly creeped out. it just didnt sink deep enough into that and there wasnt enough real danger. the deaths were distant and over fast. didnt feel that sad at any of them.
- more interesting to see more flo and Clara for sure.

a different read for sure and I'm glad I read it, but disappointing and a bit slow too.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lili_geek's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Story plot: the impact of cursed land over generations, with the focus of the storyline on queer women. 

Pros: unreliable narrative, the progression of the curse, difficulty identifying what is manufactured and what is real. 

Cons: the narration of the story often came across as preaching and annoying, constant POV shifting. 

My overall vibe about this book is idk. While I read it and after I finished it, I still don’t know what I think about this book or if I like or don’t like this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Minor: Sexual assault and Violence

uhhlexiconic's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-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

2.0

More akin to a textbook than a novel, and perhaps twice as long as it needs to be, Plain Bad Heroines pulls every ounce of tension out of its material and and dilutes some of its stronger attributes.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

Moderate: Car accident

carrots02's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

i will be thinking about this book for a long time. it’s delightfully eerie and weird and sapphic! i borrowed it from the library and before i got halfway through i ordered it from my local bookstore. 

the characters are fascinating. the story is rich with history and gory details. i adore how self referential it is and that it’s truly a mystery!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Sexual assault