Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Das Mädchen und der Winterkönig by Katherine Arden

30 reviews

mmefish's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Witch. The word drifted across his mind. We call such women so, because we have no other name.

This one... isn't as great as "The Bear And the Nightingale".

I still love Katherine Arden's writing and the way she shapes her characters but this book feels way less... mature? The beginning is fine and the middle section is great (I was anxious the whole time) but the ending felt rushed, unnecessary and trope-ish.

What I mean by unnecessary is, for example, this:
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did the traitor really need to be Koschei the Deathless? It didn't serve any purpose rather than to connect Vasya to him, which wasn't needed. His character was good enough as a human and his evilness became a little caricaturish as well.

-

what was the point of  incorporating Olga's pregnancy and killing her unborn baby? Just...why? I think Vasya had enough of courage and determination without it.

-

romance with Morozko. Not necessary and could easily be written as strong friendship/platonic relationship. She's about 16 years old and is often referred to as "child", so it's kinda icky.

And by tropes I mean: Vasya is special, "plain" (so many time it's mentioned that she's ugly and not a beauty, we get it), everyone falls in love with her; Vasya is good/better at whatever; lack of communication, specifically people starting telling something and just... deciding not to (I hate it so much); the "twist" (

"the villain was one of us all along"

), the easy escape at the very end,

teenage girl in love with ancient being

etc. 
It read a little bit too much like YA.

Also, I'm really sick of

Vasya getting sexually harassed/assaulted.

I understand why Katherine Arden writes it but I dislike it nonetheless. 

Overall, "The Girl in the Tower" is definitely not terrible but still feels like a letdown after such a strong first book.
_______________

Edit: decided not to finish the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal death, Rape, Slavery, and Vomit

kenzielireads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Infertility

fatherprozac's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

This was kind of a slog to get through from the beginning to middle, but once it started picking up toward the end I was hooked into the series once again so I will continue to the final book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

tmickey's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, and Violence

Moderate: Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent

kirschyhershey's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Sexual violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment

sarahaf712's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Content warning: birth; stillbirth

victoriousbookworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was just as amazing as the first in the series, and does not fall victim to the second book slump. There is adventure and intrigue, deception and betrayal. The setting of medieval Russia both has its positives in the magnificent imagery created by the author and moments that will anger as it hinders Vasya’s ability to show her true strength. The ending was so gratifying and the perfect way to end such a riveting second installment. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Animal cruelty and Sexual harassment

chattie_the_mad_chatter's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is a much quicker pace than the first book, the story moves to Moscow, politics in the city. Whilst Vasya is reunited with the siblings she said goodbye to as a child, the folk of fairy tales are trying to stay present as the people in Moscow forget and put Paton gods aside as superstition. Bandits are rife in the villages the Tarta's want their ransom and Vasya refuses to abide by Russian rules and stay hidden in the Tower with the rest of the women. Not whilst she sees animals, people and being who need her.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Sexism, Violence, and Sexual harassment

galactic_gigi's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Following the first book in it‘s magical footsteps, this book delivered everything needed in a sequel. We get a heroine that is maturing throughout the book while facing human and magical dangers. Vasya‘s development during this book is incredible and I wished to protect this innocent child from all the cruel things her world has to offer. However, she masters the difficulties she faces wonderfully given the circumstances and I‘m still amazed how good of a heart she has. If I were faced with all this stuff, I would gladly stay in a not-quite-there-hut in the forest.
The slow-burn left me sighing more than once and at this point I can‘t wait to nearly die in a winter night just to be saved by a handsome frost-demon. Also: the YEARNING. From both of them! And he is always there for her. These are the things that keep the seasonal depression at bay!
Despite introducing a new villain in this book, I still can’t fathom the idea of how much hatred and rage a certain priest provokes in me. The pure entitlement this man feels towards Vasya leaves me with the most urgent need to introduce him to a wall. Of Brick. Repeatedly. Needless to say, Vasya is confronted with a lot of misogyny and sexism, as could be expected in a historical fantasy. However, the reveal in the end was a little bit obvious if you know some Russian folklore but it was executed really well and the betrayal left me aghast (somehow I managed to expect it but also denying myself so yeah, the shock was real).
The things I liked most were definitely the scenes with amoroso and the ones with her little niece. Also, as I mentioned: I really want an opportunity to train my right hook with this blond dude….

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Vomit, Trafficking, and War

marlireads's review against another edition

4.0

The writing and the fairytale vibes are just sooo lovely 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment