Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

239 reviews

camillesim's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Murder, Body horror, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, and Addiction

prappleby's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Graphic: Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Murder, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence

Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, Islamophobia, and Misogyny

marymacb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring tense 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

4.5

Informative, with humor, which makes it easier to bear some of the difficult choices faced by these women. A well written story with a satisfying ending. I learned a lot about the caste system in Northern India. Make sure to read the author's note at the end about the real Bandit Queen. Very good. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Murder, Violence, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

abbasaurusrex's review against another edition

dark funny 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

4.0

The best way to characterize this book is as a dark comedy: full of sitcom-like scenarios and dialogue but dealing with dark themes like domestic violence, misogyny, SA, alcoholism, and murder. I enjoyed the ride and loved each of the women in the book. They were distinctive, complex, and FUNNY. The story runs on  witty banter, hijinks and capers, and tales of women reclaiming their power. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Classism, Sexual assault, Murder, and Misogyny

Moderate: Fatphobia, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Infertility, Ableism, and Abandonment

katie_elvira's review against another edition

dark lighthearted 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

Graphic: Rape, Murder, Violence, and Alcoholism

s_lorenz's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Infertility, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

radtj's review against another edition

funny inspiring tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Murder, Suicide, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Classism, and Fatphobia

helfire124's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Addiction, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Child abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Gun violence, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Death, Sexual violence, Vomit, Murder, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Torture, Vomit, Excrement, Islamophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Animal death, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infidelity

bethanylaurel's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Violence, Murder, Classism, and Sexual assault

andrea_lachance's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.25

A stunning debut that balances humor, patriarchy, caste systems, and the importance of female friendships.

I came into this book mostly blind. I’d picked it up about a year ago at my local library and was mildly intrigued, but never got around to reading it. This is my second go at having the book, and first go at reading it.

This book is best read with a basic understanding of the premise and an open mind.

Shroff’s debut is impressive. ‘Bandit Queens’ balances its dark humor amazingly well, I actually chuckled at a couple of incredibly dark jokes! Shroff’s book is also a love letter to female relationships, and female friendships. She writes such dynamic and flawed characters and I loved/hated them all.

Geeta is my girl! She’s sharp, funny, and such a powerhouse. She’s  not perfect and that’s why I love her. She’s fucking funny as fuck idc what anyone says, put her on a stage with a mic.

I will say, I wasn’t prepared for how grapic the book would get with S.A. AND DV, so readers should be weary of that. The climax also left a bit to be desisted, the book rapped up pretty quickly. But honestly? I was really just vibing, reading about what Geeta and the girls were getting up to.

I keep reading books with alcoholics and SA. Coincidence? Idk. I’m trying not to read too much into it.

Female friendships for the win, and friends that slay together stick together!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Classism, and Gun violence

Moderate: Addiction and Animal cruelty