Reviews tagging 'War'

The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson

40 reviews

woolerys's review

dark inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

Writing - 4/5 

Plot - 4/5 

Characters - 5/5 

World-building - 5/5 

Personal tastes - 5/5 

TOTAL:  4.6

 

I felt a little like this book was custom-tailored for me because it features a) a circus in b) the Midwest with c) an aerialist as a prominent character. I should have read it last year when it came out, but in a way the timing was perhaps better now, since a major theme of the book is looking a dark future square-on and still doing what you can to spread love and joy and to take care of your own community—a queer, multiracial, diverse community in a world where that’s not the norm. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Homophobia

j2teapot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

This is a really well written book, but I was not prepared by how sad it got, how intimately painful it would be. And how much time would be spent on the pain and grief aspect compared to hope. I did like the ending and I'm pleased it wrapped up that way.
It's not a 4* because I struggled to finish it due to the pain across the pages, however it not a 3* because I enjoyed the characters and how they developed, and it is an excellent representation of the ongoing trauma mental and domestic abuse can cause.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, Grief, and War

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Death of parent

fronk10's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

A truly beautiful book about finding light in the dark. The magic is so gorgeous and the descriptions so visceral. A hard read at times, but a delightful one nonetheless.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, and War

silverwings95's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and War

Moderate: Eating disorder, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

littlelizzieborden's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Homophobia

erinmgill's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? N/A

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia

rhyme_not_reason's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent

pinklemonadey's review

adventurous emotional slow-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

I really enjoyed this book. It was an emotional story about a woman finding and treasuring her chosen family after a toxic relationship, set in a magical and historical world. I found the characters to be relatable, especially Rin. Although I hate the antagonist from a personal standpoint, I find his writing to be compelling.

I will say that I felt a few small things were left unanswered and/or without a payoff, such as 

what happened to Mr. Davidson and why Charles would have died if he stayed in the present time

but they were not such big questions that would have left me feeling completely unsatisfied.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Racism

jmmd's review

dark emotional reflective slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Stalking, and War

Minor: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent

nicmay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

All the stars!! This book had so many quotes that I loved but I’ll add my favorite one here: “…those who hurt the most are the best at protecting others from the dark, because they know what the dark looks like.” The bad guy is BAD, bad. And his chapters raised my blood pressure a little. But I absolutely loved this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: War