Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

39 reviews

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

sankatoni's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

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

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

cj_spataro's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

This is a dark, challenging book - at least it was for me. I was very interested in reading about the Italian attempt to colonize Ethiopia and how the Ethiopians managed to defeat the Italians under Mussolini. The novel is told from several points of view - one of which is an Ethiopian female guard to the Shadow King (as Haile Selassie has fled), Hirut. The other is an Italian photographer, sent by the government to document the war. No one comes out of this unscathed and at times, for me, the violence was difficult to read about - especially the sexual violence. The book is beautifully written. The descriptions and evocations of place are masterful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and War

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexism and Death of parent

emmah_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging

3.5

An important and interesting story! I think this would be a great book for someone who likes battle scenes and who has the stomach for repeated and graphic SA.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence