Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Shadow King, by Maaza Mengiste

29 reviews

paperquilt's review against another edition

dark emotional informative medium-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? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and War

angharadmiller's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and War

busyblackbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and War

tenten's review

dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, and War

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child death and Antisemitism

bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

5✨

historical fiction, African literature 

themes of war, the strength of women, fighting the fuck back 

this novel is truly stunning. i was blown away. i can’t imagine what it took to write this - the historical research, the lyrical descriptions, and the devastating content. there were lines and thoughts and ideas and concepts that just took everything out of me. that shook me to my core. 

although i didn’t find this to be true for me, i can definitely understand why people say this is a hard book to read. it’s extremely dense, and the subplots are real. but i think that’s when historical fiction is at its best. the characterization and stories that exist within the historical event brought to life through fiction - that’s what The Shadow King is. 

and i mean when will the empowerment of women, especially within the context of a story we are ALWAYS overlooked within, not be incredible in a book? i think never 

“who remembers what it means to be more than what this world believes of us?”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Sexual assault, and Rape

kittya's review against another edition

Got bored

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and War

zoes_human's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad

4.0

A beautifully written story of Ethiopia's fight against Mussolini's invasion. It is brutal and heartbreaking, but I don't think the truth of war can be told in any other way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

Minor: Antisemitism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Death, Infidelity, and Injury/injury detail

fatimazahrah's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, War, and Rape

highpulpoj's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence

wngwendy's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.25

review to come

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Xenophobia and Antisemitism