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clementinemelodie's review against another edition
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.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Death of parent, and War
stabilesero's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
khakipantsofsex's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
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
moriahleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and War
magalis's review against another edition
- 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? No
2.5
Content warnings for rape and pedophilia (child brides in their early-teens).
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Death of parent
zoes_human's review
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
ragna_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
wngwendy's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Xenophobia and Antisemitism
vaniavela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Rape, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent