Reviews tagging 'War'

The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

43 reviews

greyike's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and War

misty_kb's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Death

Minor: Drug use and Misogyny

clementinemelodie's review against another edition

I was sold a story of women during the war, but this book (at least its first third) mainly slow and heavy description of men on the battlefield. I found it extremely tedious.
I was also very annoyed with the pretentious style, it tries to be clever and poetic but I don't think it succeeds. One particular "writing tick" I got bored with was the constant flashforwards to "this will be told in the stories, sung in the songs", etc.. yet not one song or story is actually mentioned in the book. I love when books immerse you in the culture and tales of the area it is set in, but here it's not the case. It's just a way to make any event "grand", but it is so repetitive that it feels more like a habit than a conscious creative choice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Death of parent, and War

stabilesero's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

Mengiste did this story justice; what a beautiful nod to her grandmother and those who fought in the Italian-Ethiopian war; particularly for those who went unrecognised.
I'm really keen to pick up Mengiste's other novels, The Shadow King was beautiful.
It wasn't perfect, I agree with other readers who also said there were a lot of side characters and names to keep up with, but I see why there were so many by the end of the book. A little bit of repetition regarding describing light and surroundings, but again, it didn't put me off. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death

stindex's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

khakipantsofsex's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Slavery, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

chelsl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring sad tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Colonisation, and War

mistercrow's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and War

billie_visible's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and War

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Antisemitism

kittyka0s's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War