Reviews with content warning for Rape - Der Schattenkönig

This novel isn’t as character driven as I’d prefer. I was basically halfway and realized I didn’t really feel much for any of the characters, I think because the narrative doesn’t focus on a single person. I did appreciate the chapters that were little pauses in the story to widen our perspective or provide a different point of view, but I wish these chapters were anchored by a more character driven “main” story. I look forward to reading what Mengiste writes, because I did enjoy her way with words. Just not for me!

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pleek6's review against another edition

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Too much casual violence without a critical perspective. Very male gazy in a disgusting way. Very unpleasant read.

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impla77's review against another edition

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challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.5

Another very literary book that I didn’t particularly enjoy. For a book this long, I would expect to have some connection to the characters but the way the author writes, I felt unable to really see the characters as fully fleshed out. Everything is a little meandering and ponderous.. I wish I liked this one more

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adrionmacaron's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

4.0

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leahhateshardbacks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

2.5

I really didn't get on with the way this book was wirtten. Between overly written prose that made the most heartbreaking scenes quickly lose value, to the characters' daydreams which are apparently so rich and vivid in their mind that sometimes it was difficult to discern whether what was happening was real or imagined. I didn't like the whole *40 years later* sections that bookended the story, I don't think it was important enough to be how we enter the story, perhaps just at the end would have been better. I was so confused by Aster - does she like Hirut, does she hate Hirut, does she not know herself? Often her actions contradicted the way she verbalised how she felt about Hirut. It takes too long to understand why the book is called The Shadow King; you don't know until about half way through and although it's not a huge demerit it was frustrating as a reader (also The Shadow King, while a great title, is not completely representative of what the story is about... the women and not The Shadow King). Okay now good things! I liked the bones of the story, the plot was interesting, feeling somewhat like a car crash that you can't help but stare horrified at (in a good way!!) although imo it could have been at least 100 pages shorter, maybe even under 300 pages altogether (cut most of the earlier stuff rather than the later). Most importantly though the main character Hirut was very endearing and easy to root for. A low class young girl sent to be a maid for a rebel and his wife after the death of her parents, Hirut is confused, frustrated, defiant, and fierce, and we see her qualities that hinder her as a maid blossom as she becomes a soldier. Tbh I think it's a bit of an insult that the book isn't named after her.

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emmah_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging

3.5

An important and interesting story! I think this would be a great book for someone who likes battle scenes and who has the stomach for repeated and graphic SA.

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ecmbeanie's review against another edition

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I knew it was about war, but there were other things in the content warning (not related to the war) that were more graphic than I wanted to read. Gave the book to my sister with a more extended content warning.

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