Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

70 reviews

riverstrongblood's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

5.0

I cannot begin to express how thoroughly I enjoyed this book. Somebody else on this app wrote that they wished there were more witches and mermaids and "less of all the other stuff" but let me just say that this books is PACKED with fantasy and pirates and witches and mermaids. A person who simply can't care for the depth of the diversity and intersectionality in this book doesn't deserve the magnitude and life breathed into its pages. 

I'm not one for spoilers in book reviews but I have never regarded a book more highly than this. And I am so appreciative for authors who are writing queer and ethnically diverse books. It's rare. A breath of fresh air against the bland, white, straight canopy that fantasy has been for so long. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Cannibalism

capriqueen's review against another edition

adventurous slow-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

3.0

Felt both slow and too short. This is clearly a rich world, but the atmospheric tone and shortness left me unable to immerse myself in it

The pacing really picked up in the last third, and my jaw dropped at the reveal of Callum’s plan. But the ending just left me feeling unsatisfied

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Trafficking, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Rape

Rape is off-page and alluded to, not named outright

sn8man's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Misogyny, Vomit, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and War

littlecatinabox's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

salted07's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring slow-paced

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

5.0

If I could rate this higher than five, I would. This book was a beautiful experience and I really recommend it. It explores themes such as gender and class differences. Tokuda wove a stunning story that everyone should read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Torture

drtx_bwt's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Trafficking

Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia

itscrispyy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

Cogí este libro sin esperar nada y me atrapó desde el principio, aunque reconozco que el principio de la segunda parte lo sentí un poco lento y me hizo perder un poco el interés, llegando a parecerme algo aburrido. Pero una vez se pasa eso, vuelve a remontar y con creces porque me ido final 😱😱 desde luego que hubo muchas cosas que NO me vi venir. Además, algo que me parece súper original es el concepto de sirenas que ha creado 👌🏻

Como punto negativo diría que me hubiese gustado más que se desarrollasen más cosas de los distintos países conquistados por el imperio y sus respectivas culturas, ya que a lo largo de la novela se dan pinceladas sueltas pero no se llega a profundizar, lo que me dejaba a veces un poco perdida y con ganas de saber más para entender mejor el transfondo de los personajes.

Además de la trama del Imperio, me gusta que también se centre en el desarrollo de las protagonistas y que vaya incluyendo nuevos POVs en cada parte del libro (es un recurso que no había visto hasta ahora). 

Tiene algunas escenas un poco duras y graficas que la verdad no me esperaba porque es bastante juvenil, así que lo dejo avisado para que no os pase como a mí.

He visto que hay segunda parte y, aunque cambian las protagonistas, lo leeré próximamente porque tengo ganas de que seguir un poco más en este mundo (y ver si ahí se pueden conocer más cosas) 👀

En general, me parece una lectura muy entretenida y super fácil y rápida de leer que creo que merece mucho la pena que más gente la conozca 🤍

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Minor: Xenophobia, Trafficking, and War

semiruralcoma08's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.75

An incredible love story and smashing adventure that is extremely inclusive of many genders and queer relationships. this book moved me to tears on multiple occasions and is written in a way that is enjoyable and accessible for readers of many levels/ages. I look forward to checking out the sequel!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

anjasshelf's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Rape