Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

5 reviews

schnaucl's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.75

I really liked this novel.   It started with the destruction of Earth and tells a story about the perils of Fascism, white supremacy, homophobia, and xenophobia.  It tells a story about what blind spots are developed when one grows up in that system and the price you pay for having those blind spots. 

I liked the characters and I enjoyed seeing them in different incarnations. I appreciated that growing up with very different circumstances didn't necessarily change certain fundamental truths of who the characters were and just because Kyr learned from her mistakes and tried to do better, she still didn't necessarily see the whole picture or naturally see the how to be as inclusive as she needed to be, although she did come to the realization of what needed to happen after it was pointed out to her.   She wasn't magically perfect even when raised outside of a Fascist State  (though still definitely inside an Imperial one)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Child abuse, Suicide, Torture, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

raptorq's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Colonisation

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

I spent a little longer before DNFing than I normally would’ve but I was waiting for the slightest HINT of character development in the MC and a little bit more plot structure coherency, but alas, I didn’t see it.
I may pick this up again to finish it  but I just wasn’t enjoying it this time! 😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

voxvenati's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

When I started this book, I thought it was a strong 3 star. I have never been so pleased to be wrong. 

At the start, I hated Kyr. Borderline stopped reading because I found her to be so awful. I hated the gender essentialism, internalized and otherwise. I hated the bleak world. But it fascinated me, even so, and I read on. 

Every character I thought I hated had such character growth. By the end, I honestly loved every single major character. These were some of the best character arcs I have ever seen, full stop.

The single thing I’m going to say I really did not care for was the characterization of Avi as a redhead. He is unlikable, gay, promiscuous, unattractive. These are some stereotypes that get applied to redheads regularly (though some not as often to men). Didn’t love the stereotype, but I do love Avi. So.

I am such a sucker for aliens and sentient ai/whatever was going on with the Wisdom. LOVED the character growth it? They? Got at the end. “I am a pleasure yacht.” !!!

And Yiso. I want to kiss them on their little crest!!! Every time they were hurt, I was physically upset. I love them so much. 

This whole spoiler section is just me gushing, but the two of them deserve it.

It’s such a cliche to say I couldn’t put this down, but for the later 80% of the book, I was losing sleep, carving out breaks in my work day just to keep reading. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I was sobbing by the end. 

In one book, Emily Tesh has become an auto-read author for me. If you enjoy explorations of nationalism, fascism, cult tactics, found family, identity, and purpose, you have to give this book a shot. It won’t be for everyone (please check those trigger warnings), but this got into my brain and has lodged itself there. Excellent read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and War

Minor: Police brutality

toopunkrockforshul's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

Really loved this, it kept me on my toes the whole way through and the characters were so interesting and compelling. The audiobook was amazing too, the narrator did a great job with all of the voices. Wonderful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Rape, and Pregnancy

Minor: Incest, Racism, Police brutality, Abortion, and Outing