Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson

28 reviews

blacksphinx's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

There's just one character where every part of her, from her personality, to her actions, to the way her storyline ends, that I found extremely annoying. I also don't feel that the two major plotlines really ever came together in a way that was satisfying. Those criticisms aside, it was wonderful to read a fantasy story that was deeply steeped in Judaism, and a "found family" story that actually sells you on how the characters are a family.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, and Classism

Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Pandemic/Epidemic

TW: Eye trauma, references to the Holocaust, graphic descriptions of the effect of atomic bombs on the human body.

anntharai's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad 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

Jfc this book is devastating. Like. If you have a button, this story pushes - and not just the big ones in big obvious ways. It's the little ways it reminds you of things, the one liners that you need to pause and think about, but for others will just pass them by. Which, is really apt considering one of the main mechanics of the story. 

It's fucking terrifying, sad, hopeful.  Ita about trauma and finding yourself, inevitability and searching for good. 


I picked this up because it caught my eye in the new arrivals but I'm gonna be thinking about this book for years. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Eating disorder

rhi_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death, Violence, and War

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

atlastheninth's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

3.75

This is a lovely story about the past being the past and while we need to worry about the future we have to live in the present and make the best of it. It is about self-acceptance and choosing your own family. 

It was good and I did like the ending, but overall I was a bit underwhelmed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse and Genocide

tofugal's review against another edition

The plot and premise were intriguing, but the characters fell flat for me. I did like Jo, but not enough to keep reading. Also, there was far too much time spent in the villain's mind for my liking (especially since he seemed like a discount Kilgrave from Jessica Jones, and he wasn't going to top David Tennant's brilliant portrayal).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Antisemitism, and War

the_lesbrarian's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Dawson’s debut novel promises a truly unique premise for fans of The Night Circus and Cloud Cuckoo Land. Set primarily in 1920s midwest USA, The First Bright Thing offers an alternate reality where, at the close of the first world war, millions of people were bestowed with sparks, a single magical power stemming from their most desperate wish.

Rin uses her ability to travel through space and time to create a magical circus and refuge for outcast sparks. She and her wife dedicate their lives to saving others through art, performance, and magic. However, when Rin travels forward and sees the horrors the near future holds, she struggles to stay grounded in the present. 

Dawson weaves together so many threads in so few pages that sometimes the story can feel a little rushed— I particularly wish that more time had been dedicated to relationships between the characters, which were central to the plot, but not often thoroughly developed. 

The First Bright Thing delicately explores identity, family, what we owe to the people we love, and how much choice we really have in our futures. 

rep:

-jewish mc

-wlw main 

-mlm side 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Genocide, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism

More details on the domestic abuse:

it is very central to the story. The main character is in a prolonged relationship with an abusive man who has the power to make people do whatever he says, and he is a constant threat/main villain throughout the novel. Reading how the main character is forced to obey and believe him may be very triggering. Take care of yourself <3

saraellington_'s review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Homophobia

onegalonelife27's review

hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Murder

jenabest's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ooh, I kind of loved this. This was such a cool concept and it was executed so well. I was surprised, though, at the amount of darkness in the story. It should be noted there's some heavy abuse content & and it was definitely an aspect I wasn't expecting. But if you can brace for the darkness, this story can also dazzle you with light.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and War

Minor: Homophobia

mysteriesbooks's review

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

I think this is one of those books I'm gonna spend years thinking about.
If you loved the magical, impossible wonder of The Night Circus, I think you're gonna love this even more. 

Its historical aspects touch so much on the after effects if war, and on choosing your family even when you aren't safe enough to display the love for them in public. And it touches on the very real struggle of keeping a culture and traditions alive when you don't have the community of that culture near you. There were so many elements that worked so well. 

I cried, I laughed, and I can't wait to reread 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and War

Moderate: Antisemitism and Stalking