Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Auē by Becky Manawatu

4 reviews

rcdep's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

janayeh's review

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Death of parent

2treads's review

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

— No one played songs here. No one listened to music or told stories... Maybe the day my family stopped existing, I did too. — Ari

Manawatu's Auē is affecting and carries the weight of the meaning of its title, which is felt from page to page. Our characters are battling with loss and trauma, with abuse and abandonment. There seems little to be joyful about under these circumstances and yet small niches of hope and happiness are sought and found, enjoyed even though they come with the press of grief.

The oppressive weight of each of our characters situations and experiences is felt as they each push through and attempt at living life the best they can. Even if it means running away, enduring domestic abuse, leaving behind loved ones for fear of bringing pain to their door, and refusing to face a grief that when acknowledged and borne together brings a special kind of healing.

Her prose is sharp and fierce and serves this story well. Auē will leave its mark of tears and beauty on readers.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

megancee's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Child death and Self harm