Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia

26 reviews

flyinglark's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious 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

3.75

The Bruising of Qilwa is a snapshot into the queer-normative fantastical Persian-inspired world. Naseem Jamnia always intended it to be a novella, but their worldbuilding left me hungry for more. The magic systems were easy to grasp and rooted in the science we know. 

I enjoyed how Firuz was a relatively "normal" protagonist, a thirty-year-old provider for their family who fled from their home country and does not rock the boat. Jamnia also highlights the nuances of immigration and being prideful of one's culture, as they mention, "[w]hat does it mean to be oppressed when you were once an oppressor."

I look forward to future work from this author, especially future works in this world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Blood, and Medical content

Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Genocide, Physical abuse, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

alwaysairie's review against another edition

mysterious fast-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

3.25

This novella was my first brand new read as I'm getting back into it and it was great for that purpose, I think it's a small intriguing read that's a good debut for the author and I'm very looking forward to reading more from them! The characters are very loveable and the dynamic especially between Faruz, Parviz, and Afsoneh is delightful.
It is basically a murder mystery with magic and disease as a focus. The story is nothing revolutionary and the resolution is quite predictable. This said it wasn't something displeasing! In fact, it gave a lot of space to be with Firuz which was a great character to follow throughout the story.
It will also  serve as a good representation for queer folks of Persian background, I'm very happy that this story exists for them

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, and Vomit

onegalonelife27's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

I found the plot interesting with Firuz being really kind; trying their best to take care of their family by making a living as healer, hiding their true magical abilities in their new country, and figuring out the cause of a new plague emerging in their new country.

I also liked the way the story was format, dividing Firuz's story into three chapters or years. First, the first year with them trying to get a job as a healer and adjusting to their new life. The second focusing on the new plague spreading on their relationship with their brother and student. The last one a dramatic conclusion to everything! 

Though I have to admit, I do feel this book does more telling and showing. Like different parts of characters' backstory are just told to the reader at certain moments with not much hinting. The backstories make sense, but I'd prefer to not be used as dramatic fodder. 

Overall, pretty good if you want a different kind of fantasy story that keeps you on your toes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Dysphoria

Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Genocide, Self harm, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and War

Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

pobi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

The world building was AMAZING and I was charmed by every character. Just a wonderful reading experience entirely.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, and Vomit

Moderate: Dysphoria

Minor: Racial slurs

toopunkrockforshul's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

Really well executed book that engages both magic and empire in a way I haven't often seen done! I'm always excited for magic-as-science and this definitely fit the bill. Also really liked how gender and transition was handled with this, where it was relevant to the characters and the story but not necessarily the point. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Racial slurs, Self harm, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and War

shelvesofivy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Blood, and Medical content

Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Grief, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

nessynoname's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

This book has a lot of things going for it, but I found myself wanting it to give a little more. I really do think it could have used an extra hundred pages at least. 

The concepts are all fantastic: a medical-fantasy story set in a queernormative Persian inspired world, with themes of immigration, xenophobia, conquest and class struggle. It is clear that the author writes from such a informed place as a person with a medical background and both Persian and queer identity. I just wish they would take more time with their exposition and character building. 

I feel like I still don't have a very firm grasp on the history/geopolitics of this region because it is all delivered in very quick little spurts throughout the narrative. The characters too, feel... alright, but I don't know that I would really say that I really came to know any of them deeply. 

I picked this book up for its asexual representation, and this is definitely an instance of the "it's not a big deal" kind of representation, where main character Firuz has a moment of internal narration noticing their brother acting flirty and sheepish to another character and Firuz ponders the contrast to their own disinterest to romance and sex, and that's all that's made of it. This is perfectly fine and an important form of representation, though I am personally currently hungry for some books of characters exploring their ace identities more at length. For those who are maybe not ace/aro but who prefer books with no romantic themes this will do nicely. 

This is a good book, and worth the time, it just needed a bit more to be a great book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, Vomit, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Racism and Injury/Injury detail

quinnyquinnquinn's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Medical content

Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, and Dysphoria

Minor: Vomit and Fire/Fire injury

kimapede's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Self harm, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Racism, Vomit, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic