Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - The Emperor's Babe

This is the most unique book that I've ever read, but then again, it's my first experience reading a novel in verse. But the whole time, I felt honoured to be reading something so beautiful, so graphic, so charming, so brutally honest, so raw, so well-written.

It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the poetic writing, but once you learn the author's style, it's simply the most lovely thing. Mix that with the brutal content and graphic scenes of the book, and it's truly something so jarring (in a good way).

I absolutely loved watching the main character explore her sexuality and take ownership of it throughout the novel. The sex scenes were so original, too. The author really knows how to play with language.

I recommend this book, especially for first time novel-in-verse readers. It's incredible.

Content Warnings

bookedbymadeline's review

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relaxing medium-paced

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

3.5

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katiersmart's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective 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

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ahbuggrit's review against another edition

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funny reflective 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

4.0

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natalieabigail's review

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challenging funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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honestlyholly's review

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adventurous sad fast-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

4.25

I've never been a fan of poetry; I hated it at school. Perhaps if this book has been on the curriculum, I'd have liked it more!

This was such an eclectic mix of Roman rule in London and modern sensibilities. You have a pre-teen Nubian girl marrying and old, rich man who locks her away, and then it follows her life on-and-off until she reaches adulthood.

The ending is not what I expected but I understood it. I questioned her choices leading up to this ending, and couldn't help but feel frustrated that things didn't work out differently, but it was apt for the time, I think.

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questingnotcoasting's review against another edition

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challenging emotional fast-paced

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

3.0

This sounded really interesting but I've always been wary of novels in verse because I'm not a poetry person. However I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. The setting of Londinium in AD 211 felt so vivid and I loved Evaristo's inclusion of both Latin and cockney rhyming slang. It's funny and the characters are interesting, even if I didn't feel that attached to them. Thanks to the rhythm of the narration I found it much easier to understand what was happening than I think I would've if I'd read the physical version.

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lucymayjackson's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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