Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Babel by R.F. Kuang

144 reviews

kylosten's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Racism

Moderate: Religious bigotry, War, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Death of parent

thebankofbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racism, War, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, and Suicide

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Torture

sunflowerwork's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and War

kshertz's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad tense slow-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

5.0

Wow this is an incredible book. It starts with colonization and we follow this small boy and there’s some magical realism. But really there’s so much more. There’s history, coming of age, revolution, the realism of change, power, and corruption. I was enthralled and couldn’t put it down. Absolutely a beast of a book but one I will be highly recommending often. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Classism, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, and War

hiddenstaircase's review against another edition

challenging emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s a fantasy history where translators are a literal pillar of silver in society. This raises a lot of ethical questions on how language is used and it’s affect on British imperialism. I thought the main perspective Robin was a good choice to convey the slow understanding of the dark side of this academia. He begins as a survivor, a shy people pleaser who would rather not ruffle anyone’s feathers before growing with his friends and finally taking a stance. The ending is bittersweet, change but at such a cost.

Spoiler

My poor boy Ramey :(

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Misogyny, Torture, Gaslighting, Suicide, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Physical abuse, War, Car accident, and Slavery

mariavdl's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Sexual harassment, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Racism, Misogyny, Slavery, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Suicide, Death of parent, and Grief

ckmariama's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Sexism, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Gaslighting, Death, and Violence

setaggu's review

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Gaslighting, Grief, Islamophobia, Racism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Medical content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Vomit and Sexual harassment

solarel's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

The first third of this book was an interesting dive into an academic and magical world. The rest of it was a slog. Plot twists occurred but felt more anxiety inducing than exciting. The last quarter of it that ramped up to the climax was just a passage of days and weeks where nothing happened at all. 

Conceptually the book discussed important themes with no subtlety, but there was nothing there to keep attention to. A bit disappointing. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, War, Death of parent, Classism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Police brutality, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, and Domestic abuse

griffin_7's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Violence, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Abandonment, Classism, Confinement, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Vomit, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Colonisation, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Forced institutionalization