Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

24 reviews

sparklefarm's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

This. This. This is what Evelyn Hugo was trying to be. Siren Queen is a dazzling look at the power and control underneath the shimmer and shine of Hollywood. Wild and weird, gorgeous, exquisite.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual assault and Pregnancy

peggymay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Sexual content, Body horror, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Murder, Homophobia, Misogyny, Classism, Sexual assault, Violence, Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Addiction, Cultural appropriation, and Body shaming

gellyreads's review

challenging dark slow-paced

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

3.0

I feel like I don't know what happened in this book. I tried to re-read Act 1, and I just still felt lost. I was really confused by the magic. But that could be me, I feel like I always struggle with magical realism? Once things started happening, I felt like I did know what was going on. I just am not too sure how much I cared. The romance, if you could call it that, fell really flat on me. The plotline about her sister felt the same way. It was written in a nice way, the idea was intriguing, I just wanted more. I honestly only gave it so high because I feel like I just missed something and I need someone to explain it to me? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Violence

ilutzer's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Racism, Misogyny, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Grief, Sexism, and Vomit

Minor: Blood, Death, and Abortion

leweylibrary's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

My love for this book isn't all-consuming, but I did really like it! I love the magical realism in it, that added so much to the story and elevated it overall. I feel like it was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Last Night at the Telegraph Club plus magic lol. I loved how it explored race and gender themes through the magic and in the glamorous (and not so)world of old Hollywood. Plus I love any book that shows how queer people did exist in history.

Ngl there were some parts of the magical bits that I did not understand lol but I love that in the end she has that epic scene and then tells Wolfe

Spoiler

that he can suck it, she'll do what she wants to do for now, and how she realizes that maybe riding off into the sunset with a guy on screen isn't what she wants, but she is down to be a monster 🔥😈

freaking love that ending.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Sexism, and Xenophobia

jaimc's review against another edition

mysterious

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, and Racism

Moderate: Homophobia and Racial slurs

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

If I had read this book as a teenager, I would have been obsessed with it.  There are monsters straight out of fairy tales and myths, classic Old Hollywood stories, love stories, different kinds of magic.... Unfortunately, as an adult, it felt a bit lacking for me, even though I did enjoy it.  This is supposedly a few different novella ideas brought together, and that makes sense to me.  There is a lot going on here.  In spite of that, I did want a bit MORE, more explanations, more world building, more stakes to this world.  The magic systems are vague and just mentioned without deeper explanations, and people can become immortal by becoming actual stars in the sky, but they are still alive?  I get the metaphor about immortality and fame, but my literal brain wants to know how that WORKS.  :) The main character basically just gets whatever she wants and doesn't grow much.  There is great LGBTQ rep, although the characters sadly have to keep who they are quiet.  The main character is a child of Chinese immigrants, and has to deal with racism, as well, and she fights back against being the stereotypical roles.  She is called a monster, I guess because of her drive and cold-nature in going after what she wants.  I was kind of hoping she would become a true monster and maybe strike some blows against the patriarchy.  I would not call this a horror by any stretch of the imagination, more like a beautiful but unsettling dream.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Outing, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Cultural appropriation, Rape, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Outing, and Xenophobia

lizzym126's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Grief, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Blood, Racism, and Sexual content

gardens_and_dragons's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was very creative and unique, as well as well written. It takes on a lot of important subjects like racism and lgbtq rights while being fantastical and mysterious. The world building in folklore that was created. Here was really intriguing. Love a good Old Hollywood story, and, adding in the magical elements just made it shine. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Sexism

Minor: Homophobia and Kidnapping

caitlinemccann's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Racism, Racial slurs, Blood, Death, and Suicide

Minor: Addiction and Animal cruelty