Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Two-Step Devil by Jamie Quatro

6 reviews

swampjam's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

Moderate: Child death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Abortion

Minor: Vomit

alyciakt's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Trafficking

jessplate's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, and Trafficking

natalieba's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

I am not sure I fully *got* everything that is happening in this book and plan to seek out some author interviews, but the feeling I have closing the book is a 5-star feeling. I liked that I was curious the whole time while still being compelled by the story and the characters. I liked that the characters were complex and complicated while still being ones you want to root for. I liked the unique structure (first person, third person, omniscient narrator, a play!). It was a wholly special reading experience and one that will have me thinking about what the author is saying for some time, I’m sure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Trafficking

Moderate: Medical content and Pregnancy

libraryoflanelle's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

In ‘Two-Step Devil’, we catch a glimpse into the lives of a seventy-year-old prophet and a teenage girl as their paths unexpectedly intersect. Throughout the story, we also come to meet 'Two-Step Devil' for better or worse… The novel goes on to explore what it means to be driven by prophecy and longing.

I absolutely loved the premise of ‘Two-Step Devil’. Sadly, the execution, whilst unique and intriguing left me wanting more. Many people already love this book, and many more will, but the storytelling approach just didn’t work for me personally. While I admire how Quatro employed multiple narratives and an experimental structure, these aspects ultimately detracted from the reading experience and left me feeling a little lost at times.

Quatro’s writing is playful and compelling, and I really appreciated the exploration of prophecy alongside the painfully human experiences of loneliness and belonging. The storyline was clearly well thought out and written with care. I would certainly try more of Quatro’s work in the future, but sadly this one wasn’t a new favourite.

If you enjoy experimental literary fiction that explores the philosophies and intricacies of human existence in inventive ways, this may be the book for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infertility

victorsbookshelf's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Abortion, and Pregnancy