Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

13 reviews

justina_kl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is now one of my favourite books of all time, and most certainly one of the best folklore fantasy books out there. It has a semi-historical setting in a world where real mixes with fantastical. The changes in point-of-view give the reader insight into the thoughts of characters from different backgrounds and who have different goals. The story is women-driven, and the characters are sympathetic without being flawless/perfect which adds to their realism. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Antisemitism

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

petra_eller's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry

Minor: War

meshuganush's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

Very Jewish. Has a great face turn near the end. Neatly splits into three acts.  The story feels like a beautifully and intricately woven tapestry. There is incredible depth and every detail matters for the whole. 

An excellent portrayal of antisemitism in society as well as mob mentality. It explored themes of the importance of family as well as found family, the brilliance and fortitude of women and an enemies to lovers story that isn't cliche.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Xenophobia and Antisemitism

kurumipanda's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, and Classism

keishbby's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism

Minor: Child death and Sexual assault

sshinesea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

5.0

The best Novik novel yet! Incredible depth of character, showing the many shades of grey in female characters missing in so many other books.  Beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia

tactiq's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia

Moderate: War

Minor: Sexual assault

asha_m's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• 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

Moderate: Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Murder

kaziaroo's review

dark mysterious 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

2.5

 I’ll begin by admitting I was disappointed in this book because I was hoping it would be like Uprooted (by the same author), which I enjoyed a few years ago, and given the rave reviews I was sure I’d enjoy it even though the blurb didn’t sound very interesting to me. And in the first half, I was optimistic; it was nothing like Uprooted, but I still held out hope that I could enjoy it because it was well written if a bit slow. My attention was wandering, but I was sure that as the plot progressed and I got more into it I’d be more interested. 

Unfortunately, the second half was only worse. By the time I was two thirds of the way through, I was thoroughly bored and couldn’t wait for it to end. I didn’t warm (pardon the pun) to any of the characters, and by the end I was sick of them. Unlike most reviewers, I enjoyed the unlabelled point of view (POV) transitions – that is, until the number of POVs kept increasing and I was dragged back to the perspective of side characters who had no reason to have so much time in the spotlight. None of the character relationships were convincing or fleshed out enough to be interesting, and the characters themselves were unlikeable. It seemed like no matter whose perspective was next, I was still disappointed. 

I also want to mention some more serious flaws in this book (avoiding spoilers as much as I can). This book tries very hard to make certain characters forgivable, even for horrible sins, making their sins not only forgiven but also forgotten as if they never did anything wrong. This makes the ending very uncomfortable as the author clearly wants you to believe that the characters will live happily ever after, but there’s just no precedent for this. Characters who hated each other (for good reason) throughout the book suddenly love each other with no build-up, further shattering any remaining suspension of disbelief. Everything is tidied up into a neat happy ending with no negative consequences, even when they are justly deserved. This left me feeling sour and unsatisfied. 

Despite this, I gave Spinning Silver three stars because it was still well written on a sentence level and the characters had distinctive voices (although I did forget who was talking halfway through a chapter once or twice, so maybe not always!), and the first half was decent. There were some nice domestic scenes which, while they slowed the book down, I found enjoyable to sink into. I’m now teetering between 2 and 3 stars, so who knows, maybe I’ll go back and edit this later after thinking further. On the other hand, I feel like I've spent more than enough time with this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Sexism, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

Passing mentions of infant death, death by childbirth, child marriage, and execution by hanging. Themes around agency, obligations, and possessiveness -- specifically of daughters/wives/women overall -- in family relationships and marriage. Sexual assault/harassment is mentioned and discussed but mostly not present; several scenes involve pressure upon mutually unconsenting parties to consummate a relationship and unwanted sexual advances.