Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Emperor's Babe by Bernardine Evaristo

12 reviews

annabel_winter's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Racism

Minor: Transphobia

bootrat's review

funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

A really funny and unique book, that's a great mix of modern and ancient. It follows the life of Zuleika from age 11 to 18, in Roman London. It's fairly light-hearted, despite her being a child bride and becoming a slave owner. The mix of poetry and prose is really good, especially in audiobook form which flows so well together - though I can see this being more difficult to read in another format.

I loved the inclusion of a trans woman among her group of friends (despite the mild transphobia that comes from this being written in 2001), as well as the blase attitude towards homosexuality and the sex positive nature of the book. 

A great short read and an enjoyable story even though the end is a little sad.

Warnings:
Though the main character is a child by today's standards the book is written with the (however mistaken) understanding that life expectancy at the time was around 40 so the events in the book take the character to almost middle age. Despite knowing Zuleika's age I mostly pictured her as a woman in her 20-30s, living life in the way that somebody of that age would in today's world. 

Also, the rape mentioned in the content warnings is in the context of child marriage and the expected "marital duties" that accompany that. It isn't described in detail.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Colonisation and War

ruby_mae_read's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, and Death

zozierose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

lucys_library's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Body horror, Death, Blood, Rape, and Torture

lyktestolpe's review against another edition

challenging funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Death

Minor: Sexual assault and Rape

jennikreads's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Rape, and Toxic friendship

lenin_lover_69's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Violence

Moderate: Rape

lotseliz's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Rape

bethsbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

4.75

This is the most unique book that I've ever read, but then again, it's my first experience reading a novel in verse. But the whole time, I felt honoured to be reading something so beautiful, so graphic, so charming, so brutally honest, so raw, so well-written. 

It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the poetic writing, but once you learn the author's style, it's simply the most lovely thing. Mix that with the brutal content and graphic scenes of the book, and it's truly something so jarring (in a good way).

I absolutely loved watching the main character explore her sexuality and take ownership of it throughout the novel. The sex scenes were so original, too. The author really knows how to play with language.

I recommend this book, especially for first time novel-in-verse readers. It's incredible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racism

Minor: Toxic relationship