Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson

4 reviews

starlitpage's review

dark hopeful 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? No

3.75

This book suffers a bit from a case of modern sensibilities in a period novel. But if you can get through the first few chapters, it justifies itself with meaning and hope grounded in the book's present. In the end, it does have a modern queer hopefulness that reminds me of Becky Chambers or TJ Klune, and the period of it--sandwiched between the first and second world wars, with what that entails for a time-hopper--serves that message. I'm still not entirely sure how much to trust the historical accuracy,  but at least there's an in-text acknowledgement of the most glaring anachronism (to me, with my circus experience) and a list of sources on circus history in.the acknowledgements pages.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Police brutality, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Minor: Genocide, Misogyny, and Lesbophobia

The narrative is on the right side against homophobia and antisemitism

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

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

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

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

Moderate: Gun violence, Body shaming, and Kidnapping

Minor: Eating disorder

kris386's review

emotional sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gun violence

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Stalking, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, Self harm, and Animal cruelty

Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Eating disorder