Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Female of the Species, by Mindy McGinnis

29 reviews

mvanhaas's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Murder

lrn22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Be aware that this book has pretty much all the trigger warnings. It is a really hard read but also beautiful and haunting and will linger in my head for a long time to come. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Animal death, Murder, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, Addiction, Death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

janneke2302's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this book. It was very different from what I expected going into it. It was a very unique read, I've definitely not read anything like this before

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Death, Murder, and Sexual assault

emilyvelle's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual violence

camsara99's review

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Murder

isabellecollum's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Injury/injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Body horror, Torture, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: Pedophilia

salon3ly's review

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

tw// discussion of sexual harassment and rape culture

In a country where state and sexual violence is constantly perpetuated, justice is rare and retribution even rarer. Female vengeance against the sex offender is rarely offered, and in media there is a certain notion that female vengeance is a reactionary action towards being faced with sexual harassment, that female rage only exists on the basis of male violation. There is a lot to be said about prison abolition, justice, and vengeance, but that is not what I want to discuss.

The Female of the Species explores the aforementioned stereotype, and in some ways I'm not convinced if it broke out of it. It's usage of Alex as the protagonist of the story, mixed in with the opinions of her complicated boyfriend, and eventual friend Claire is clever, but would it be bad to say that I'm tired of

Spoiler

  authors killing off their protagonists for some shock factor or misguided idea of peace. Would it have been more revolutionary for Alex to live and find love despite her wrath that wasn't societally acceptable? Then again, is The Female of the Species revolutionary? The answer for me is a resolute no.

The Female of the Species makes some great commentary on rape culture and its pervasiveness. But, I'm not sure if this is the book we need right now.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

sneezy_5000's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Gun violence

myworldtoread's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cursing, Drug use, and Rape

meb1073's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

This book was definitely not what I expected. I enjoyed how well thought out the plot and characters were. In fact, I could definitely see a TV show or movie be developed from this book. Some parts were somewhat unrealistic, like some of moments with the parents or the police officer presentation. The fact that

Spoiler

Jack would get back together with Alex, knowing she killed people??

was beyond unrealistic, I don't think anyone in their right mind would do that. Despite this, I found the story inspiring and many of the characters to be likeable. PK was by far my favorite, despite her cliche trope I thought she was super sweet and relatable. I don't think I enjoyed Alex or Jack that much

Spoiler

especially as a couple

, but hey, they made it work. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence