Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless

6 reviews

brooke_city's review

dark mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Picked this up on a whim. Teetering between 3.5 and 4.

Came for the political intrigue. For those who care more about the scheming, and less about battles, this is for us.

Gormflaith is a City Girl. Drugging, pimping, manipulating -- she uses anyone to get what she wants. Including her own son. She pretends everything is for him, but really is the glorification of herself. If women were allowed to inherit and rule, she wouldn't need him. The things she does are so despicable, you really wanna hate her. But... she got a point. Fuck the patriarchy! Burn it all down!

I fear she will get screwed by her brother in the end bc he's playing the really long game. I don't think he's as incompetent as he appears.

Fódla. Oh dear, Fódla. Stand UP, my good sis. Where Gormflaith has too much confidence, Fódla doesn't have an ounce. Tomas has basically broken her through fear mongering and emotional abuse. Once out from under his thumb, she thrives. Of course, Prince M falls for her, and he doesn't care what she looks like. I don't care how cliche it is, I'm rooting for them! Can't wait for Tomas to see someone who actually appreciates her, and a mortal, no less.

I'm invested enough to continue the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Sexism

Moderate: Torture and Injury/Injury detail

dogearedbooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, War, Misogyny, Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery

Moderate: Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Suicide

szuum's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, and Death

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual content

Minor: Suicide and Slavery

indyjg's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

5.0

This stunning first novel of the Gael Song series is a brilliant, gripping historical fantasy that I could barely put down. From the first pages, you’re immediately thrown into a fantastical 10th-century Ireland where feuding magical clans are vying for power in a changing political and religious landscape. Tales of magic, betrayal and warring kings are told from the dual perspectives of Gormflaith, an ambitious and machiavellian Queen who, while vying for power, is also trying to keep her identity as one of the few remaining Fomorians, powerful wielders of fire-magic a secret. On the other side of the coin, we’re introduced to Fódla, a healer belonging to the Tuatha Dé Danann, another race of immortal magic users forbidden from interacting with mortals but have increasingly been drawn into mortal conflicts.

These two rival groups are sworn enemies, determined to destroy each other. Lawless beautifully describes the political manoeuvring and intrigue between the Fomorians and the Tuatha Dé Danann and the changing religious landscape between the Norse and Christian communities at the time. However, my favourite aspect of this book is how morality is woven throughout the story; there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ factions, merely morally grey characters with compelling and nuanced perspectives. I also thoroughly enjoyed how both Gormflaith and Fódla were fleshed-out, captivating and strong female characters. They were given due time to understand and relate to their motivations while still being morally grey, so many books fall short of this. Lawless’s prose read like a Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes book, and needless to say, I am keenly anticipating the sequel, so Children of Gods and Fighting Men gets five stars from me!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, and Slavery

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child death

booksandteatime's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Death, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Rape, and War

bettysbookishworld's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Murder, Violence, Grief, War, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Sexism, and Slavery

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Child death