Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Banitka by Anna North

65 reviews

lovejasmine's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

The biggest problem with this book is that it could have been so much better than it was. It could have been so inclusive and intersectional and diverse, and could have been a beautiful, in depth story of marginalised people coming together in a world that hates them.

Instead, we got the barest hint of that, with a very self centred, very white narrator that was, honestly, kind of boring.

The worst thing about this book was it wasn't bad. It just could have been incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

emilyhunterr's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Sexism, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Blood, and Medical trauma

olivia_piepmeier's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

A troubling world, but North doesn't delve into the unpleasant parts. It felt adventurous with the right amount of challenging to not be disturbing. A fun mix of Wild West with alternative history and gender issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content

Moderate: Medical trauma

madisonrhoff's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

Not a read I would usually go for but I was pleasantly impressed. A feminist western novel works better than you would think. I love the female relationships that are explored in this book. Ada is a great narrator of the story and I love her inner monologue throughout the plot. There is a lot of backlash online about the queer and racial relationships in the book. I agree and disagree with some parts. This book is supposed to take place in the 1800s, which is important context. The racial and queer themes are not far off from what white europeans believed at the time, but I do think an opportunity was missed to explore them to a greater extent and showcase what “could’ve been”. Also wish there were more indigenous poc considering this all takes place in the southwest US. My rating is in terms of how I enjoyed the book while reading, but I do have criticism upon reflection.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Medical trauma

ripxreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Infertility, Racism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt

theologize's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Blood

Minor: Abortion

hope_gabrielle_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy

Moderate: Infertility and Abortion

Minor: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

rory_o_rama's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny sad 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

What can I say, I’m a sucker for a good Wild West setting. Throw in some queer folks and there was no way I was putting this book down before I finished it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Racism, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

stacyjeanc's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, and Medical trauma

jules44's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

A gay western meets the dystopia of Handmaids Tale. North writes intricate characters that push the narrative of understanding what makes us different does not make us less than. A great feminist read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment