Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

146 reviews

tifftastic87's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

This is a strong recommendation for complex world building, deep characters, analysis of colonialism, racism and sexism and their inherent ties to academia and the British Empire. It was brutal in its evisceration of both academia and the British Empire, but beautifully written and thoroughly researched. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Child abuse, Classism, Grief, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Slavery, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Medical content, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Hate crime, Blood, and War

aristarcodisamo's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Death of parent, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child abuse, Classism, Racism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Blood, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, and Gaslighting

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Cultural appropriation, Police brutality, Slavery, and Religious bigotry

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

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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

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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

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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. 

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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 :(

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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

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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

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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 against another edition

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

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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