Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey

6 reviews

hmonkeyreads's review

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I always enjoy books from this author but this particular title threw me off a bit because the subject matter was less cozy than usual! 

I turn to this series for a history lesson and some intrigue but this one feels like it was written five minutes after the Dobbs decision because it's all about women's reproductive health, women being wrongly persecuted and prosecuted for looking after their own interests, and how horrible powerful men (and the patriarchy in general) are for women.

It's a little shocking that 2023 America isn't a whole lot better than 1922 India.

All that said.  It was good but the subject matter is frustratingly heavy.  I also want more romance with Perveen and Colin.  Break freak of society's unfair rules and live your life, Perveen!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

tamara_joy's review against another edition

mysterious tense 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Miscarriage, Antisemitism, Abortion, and Alcohol

kimveach's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I loved this fourth book of the Perveen Mistry series. She always focuses on the restrictions imposed upon women in 1920s India. In this case, the book dealt with women's obstetric health and how a man could assault a woman in his household without recrimination. Fascinating information and characters I loved.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative inspiring mysterious sad fast-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 love the Perveen Mistry series and always look forward to the next installment. While there were parts of this I loved, there were parts that weren’t as strong. 

The descriptions of people and places, food and clothing, and social rules - spoken and unspoken  - are the most interesting. There is so much about this era in India that I don’t know, and I always want to learn more. I really enjoyed this book up to the last few chapters which I felt were weaker. 

As we get to the end of the book, the tension ramps up. There’s a dramatic scene at a ball but it seems contrived rather than naturally flowing from the plot. The final chapter, in which everything is laid out and explained, redeems the earlier section. 

I’m also mystified by two things. One is that the subject of the title really isn’t that dominant a character. I think The Ayah of Bhatia House would have been a more relevant title. Also, without revealing too much, an offstage character is mentioned as being alive and well but in an earlier book it appeared that character was dying in a hospital. While not addressed in this book, that discrepancy is relevant to Perveen’s life and needs to be clarified in the next book. 

Overall this is a wonderful book full of information and inspiration, and I will always look forward to reading about Perveen. This just wasn’t the best in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Abortion, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

iamsammie27's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Rape, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury

medini_l's review against another edition

adventurous informative 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation