Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Une braise sous la cendre by Sabaa Tahir

32 reviews

chronicacademia's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Gore, Hate crime, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

alexasolis98's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

First, I do not understand how this book is marketed as YA. 
As for my reread of this book after 9 years, this book hurts so much. There is so much darkness yet people are still able to have hope and kindness. I worry about Helene, Laia and Elias. I don't trust Keenan. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Abortion

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Vomit

esconce's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense 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? Yes

4.0

I have read this whole series but just wanted to write my final reviews, the characters in this book definitely get better as the story and series as a whole progresses. I personally really disliked Helene in the beginning but over time she became my favorite character by the end of the series. It definitely has a couple “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire” sort of moments, but it deals with a surprising amount of classism racism and more that honestly just fits really well. The world building is just top tier and Keenan stays as one of my favorite characters from the beginning to the end. :D 9/10 would read again

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Slavery, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual harassment

mordshunger's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

2.0

Ooof. 

First: cw slavery apologetics incoming I guess.

It's clear there is a full redemption ark coming up for Helen. She may change, but she cannot be excused. I will do my due diligence and continue with this series. If I am wrong, I will come back and delete this. But if I am right, she will continue to be an actual romantic interest, which is frankly disgusting at this point. If he ends up with Helen or even entertains the idea, this is a 1. She is an unforgivable heartless and evil bitch. She really only does good for him, and not because it is right. She would have had a hundred slaves die and sleep like a baby. And buhuhuhu she is so sad that anyone would think she is evil. Her dramatic explanation doesn't actually explain "everything" - her actions and words about slaves and slavery were not necessary for her deal. They were the truth.

Otherwise, loosely in order as I thought while reading:

Pretty standard ya fare, it's okay. It made me laugh in places because everyone is obviously hot, everyone has a distinct mysterious smell, moves with grace, has an indescribable eye colour that shifts with their emotions and so on and so on. Strong debut energy on this one, but as a teenager I wouldn't have minded. Main character has "golden" eyes. It's really laid on thick. MC continuosly gets down on herself about being weak or looking bad and I am quite tired of the projected glow up to a confident and desired warrior hero... Oh lord now it's labour vs management in the resistance.


There is a lot of clumsy exposition and more telling than showing. Familiar set-up and predictable backstory and first act. 

It is very important the reader is reminded every few pages how wonderfully slim and attractive the women are. Apart from different wild eye and hair colour combinations, I'd say all women all slender goddesses with sensual curves. Unless they are old and scarred. Good grief.

His chapters are more enjoyable. But - Take a shot every time he calls Helen a "girl" in a derogatory way.

It's a good thing Laia is otherworldly hot, otherwise this book would be hard pressed to make some major plot happen. It appears to be the sole reason for any man interacting with her or helping her.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

redhothabanero's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.5

This is a very good book with great world building. However, it had some things that reminded me a lot of The Children of Blood and Bone (which I know was published later but just so happens that I read TCOBAB first so that's where my mind would go. Which btw if you haven't read it then you should. It's really good and slightly better than this one IMHO). I really liked the characters in this book and I will for sure read the other ones in the series. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

flowergrove's review against another edition

adventurous reflective fast-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

I really enjoyed this book! It's the first book I've read in about five months and I have been meaning to read it for a very long time now. My girlfriend picked it out of my TBR and I am really glad that she did. The characters Laia and Elias were loveable and very easy to get behind. Their point of views and the way they mixed and collided with one another was fun to follow. I am looking forward to the next book! (Which has already been ordered.) 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Racism and Sexual harassment

veeronald's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Murder, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, War, and Injury/Injury detail

lqvekanej's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

an absolutely stellar piece of writing. i already went in after hearing so many good things, and wasn’t disappointed. i’m so excited to continue reading elias and laia’s story. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

devinder's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

 I absolutely LOVE Elias and Laia. They're vibrant characters, and DIVERSE. They are morally grey, complicated, and a little messed up in the head, but ultimately their character arcs are so SO satisfying to witness (even if by the end of this first book, they're not entirely completely new people). And the side character made me cry and scream so the whole line-up is so strong.

The multiple POVs are probably the biggest reasons why this book is irresistible each of the chapters changes from Laia to Elias and back and it almost always ends on a cliffhanger. Each of the plots interwoven and are is completely compelling.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Racism and Trafficking