Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Blue-Skinned Gods by SJ Sindu

6 reviews

yytejas's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Cancer and Murder

rekhainbc's review against another edition

challenging sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence

sknappy1's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Animal death and Vomit

mybestfriendisabook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

3.0

~ARC edition~
There was a lot going on, including heavy themes, but didn’t feel fully fleshed out. Not enough context and background. The last part in NYC was especially chaotic and moved really fast with alot of major events that could’ve been less rushed. I question how it didn’t seem like anyone was fazed by blue skin?? A god?? The whole posing as a god as a business wasn’t fully fleshed out to be  believable as convincing.

Was disappointed that the MC isn’t even Indian

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Suicide, and Violence

kylieqrada's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? Yes

3.0

A solid 3 star read. This book was fascinating. We follow Kalki, a boy born with blue skin who is believed to be, and is raised as, the 10th and final incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. I learned so much about Hindu beliefs and culture through this book, and found that the author was able to convey the faith in a very multi-faceted way. The characters were so diverse and not treated in a tokenistic manner whatsoever, but rather woven into the story organically. I would be interested in Own Voices reviewers' take on the treatment of transgender characters in the story, although from my limited perspective, I thought the discussion of their history in India was handled fairly well. I enjoyed the narrative style that the story was told in, with Kalki looking back from the future and telling the story to the reader. With all of the intense abuse that takes place throughout the beginning of the story, this perspective gives some sense of hope that Kalki will make it through. While I did enjoy the latter portion of the story, seeing Kalki interact with his cousin and new friends in America, I didn't particularly like the way things wrapped up, and actually found myself imagining alternate endings. Overall, I think that while this book is very strong for the first 2/3 or so, the ending leaves something to be desired, and could have gone in a number of more satisfying directions. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent