Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard

13 reviews

gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition

I gave this a few chapters to try, but I found that it lacked some substance for me. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad book because it falls into a lot of YA tropes but it’s really not for me.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, and Racism

itsheyfay's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Ableism, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death

raviolioli's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

beepbeeprichie's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

Moderate: Torture and Police brutality

Minor: Death of parent and Racism

princesspotion's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

I finished it in a few hours. Even though I can admit this book has some flaws, I am easy to please and enjoyed it. I might continue the trilogy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Torture

Moderate: Racism and War

amcn92's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.25

Distinctly teen YA, but not necessarily a bad thing. There are multiple love interests and lots of political intrigue, but I really loved that the main character didn't get too swept up in that! The majority of the time she focuses on her family/community and protecting them propels her actions. She's definitely a teen main character- there were several times where she would be like "we can do this, and everything will be solved!" and I was reading it like "GIRL NO THERE IS SO MUCH MORE NUANCE TO THIS SITUATION THAN THAT AND IT WONT BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT PLEASE DON'T- oh, she's doing it. goddammit." Haha but that means I was engrossed in the story and attached to her survival! Definitely cool worldbuilding, I'm going to devour the second book tonight.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Racism and Torture

bendersreads's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, and Racism

dorothysbookshelf's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Physical abuse, War, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Racial slurs

Minor: Cursing, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

strong themes of terrorism and racism between fictitious groups

readwithde's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.25

Another day, another strong, female YA/NA novel about overthrowing the government. 

I have to say, this might be one of my favorite fictional worlds, and the story happening around and to the MCs is so overwhelmingly amazing. Mare, a simple thief and Red girl ends up having an amazing ability, just like the elite Silvers who rule. Like many female leads, she is thrust into this new world of court, politics, and betrayal, where only power and strength are honored. 

Unlike the other heroines, Mare remains thoroughly different. She doesn't learn courtly intrigue, she doesn't come to understand the Silvers, and she never chooses romance over her family, her friends, and her Red blood. The comfort and protection and specialness never trick her into forgetting the pain and atrocities of her people. Also, she trains a bit, but she is still outmatched by those who have had decades of work; at the end of the book, she is stronger, but not unrecognizable. It's refreshing.

I saw a few of the twists coming, but it didn't run the story for me. The princes Cal and Maven are interesting and consistent, the Scarlet Guard is active as its own entity (aka not waiting around for the MCs), and the Silvers all have their own games and loyalty. 

I loved it, and I'm dying for the next book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Xenophobia

Moderate: Blood, Violence, Torture, Racism, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and War

llsugarspicell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Blood