Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

227 reviews

awebofstories's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Murder

jotee76's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful 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

4.25

I liked that issues relating to the caste system were highlighted as well as honour based violence and treatment of women in India.  However,  I get a sense that the author was writing this with view to being made into a film, with elements of the narrative becoming farcical, bordering on slapstick,  which was a bit distracting.  Overall, I enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Death, Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infertility, and Racial slurs

ewayne's review against another edition

emotional funny sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Xenophobia, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual violence, and Rape

baguettekelly's review against another edition

dark funny

3.75

A violent, stirring, brutal, and curiously funny revenge story with great female characters and an immersive setting in an Indian village.  Not an easy read but worth the challenge.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Murder

emg3's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.75

The blurb was the best bit of this book. There was quite a lot of tactlessness and, though I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt, it just felt offensive and insensitive sometimes. Maybe I missed something crucial while reading, but it really felt like the most important parts of this book were given the fewest words. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, Classism, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, and Islamophobia

dewo0019's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful reflective medium-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

3.75

This book was a rollercoaster. I really liked it at first, then wasn't fond of the Indian stereotypes and relationships between the women, but am glad I stuck with it because I ended up enjoying the character development and message of female friendships. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Bullying, Physical abuse, Murder, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Classism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, and Rape

dale_in_va's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted fast-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

5.0

Not for the weak minded... this book is disturbing, but in a good way.  A really entertaining book about a really complicated set of issues.   This is a dark comedy is a way to make you smile through "darkness and absurdity of life" (author's quote).  I find the words of the author's note sums it up "“Fiction is when research meets compassion.  I believe that this is why facts don’t change people’s minds, but stories do”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Murder, Violence, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Rape, and Blood

Minor: Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Vomit, and Kidnapping

This book is a "fantasy" about female empowerment in a patriarchal society. Readers need to have the sophistication to understand that the absurdity presented here is a way to grant people agency in a society that doesn't value them. It can leave the reader with an existential discomfort with the issues that it raises.

mrsmeowmix's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-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

3.5

The subjects explored in the book were shocking but understandably that is the reality that many women may face in that society.  I felt like it was really thrown in my face gratuitously and wish there was more of a warm up to it. There was one part I truly chuckled at but found the shifts between serious discussions of said topics and the banter between the women jarring. 

At times I found the many of the characters unlikeable and found the events leading up to the ending to be overly theatrical and incredulous. But it did tie up nicely. I wish there were more explanation of Karem and ASP Sinha. I suppose they were my favorite characters as the least manipulative people in the story. 

Overall, it seemed like the author tried to explore a lot of themes and was in a rush to wrap up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Infertility, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Murder, Domestic abuse, Classism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gun violence, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse

dakdoesbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative lighthearted 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

5.0

If dark humor, light romance, girl power, and tons of twists and turns is your thing , then you NEED to read this! 10/10 cannot wait to see what Parni writes next

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexism and Murder

Minor: Pedophilia