Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

26 reviews

mbjem_'s review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

3.5

This book was VERY slow to start, and for a while, I was considering a DNF. I got completely blocked around the 50% mark because I just did not find the characters likable at all. I can say that I'm at least mostly glad that I stuck out until the end, though. While I do still think the pacing was a little slow, and the exposition came across as a little forced at times, I did genuinely like this book after I finished it. 

The world building is interesting, unique, and compelling enough to be worth reading more about on its own. While I'm not totally endeared to the main characters yet, I did like several of the side characters quite a lot. Hopefully, the sequel will show some real growth for the main characters and make them more likable. At this point, I'm cautiously optimistic about the future and the next books!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Hate crime, Mental illness, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Murder, Classism, Vomit, Slavery, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, and Death of parent

sarahdotmp4's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Violence, and Xenophobia

dragongirl271's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Self harm, Animal death, and Xenophobia

anni_swanilda's review

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Gaslighting, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Gore, Murder, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Vomit, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Self harm

Minor: Sexual content, Child death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, War, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Slavery

luckykosmos's review

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“This is my mind. I am the strongest person here.”

I went in with no real idea of what this would be like, and ended up adoring it. The characters are fun, and the voice Brown gives them had me occasionally putting the book down to laugh. And with that came very human representations of grief, of anxiety/panic disorders (as a sufferer), of migraines. Definitely picking up the sequel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Violence and Xenophobia

briely's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Death of parent

Moderate: Death and Fire/Fire injury

etherealiz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

This book has a pretty classic plot of one person needing to kill the other but it does it remarkably well! The story had some pretty interesting twists and turns that I didn't see coming and was really interested in. Pretty flawed and complex character, especially while picturing anxiety which was a fresh take. The world is also beautifully constructed and doesn't feel like something I already read about before. Overall, really great book, can't wait to pick up the sequel that I ordered straight away

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Slavery, and Xenophobia

szuum's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Animal death, Death of parent, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

ofbooksandechos's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, and Physical abuse

Minor: Self harm and Animal death

additional cws: fictional racism, use of fictional racial slurs.

sarahbythebook's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

It took a lot for me to get into this book (hence the half star missing), but I don't know if that was just my headspace this month or the book itself. The last half, however, was INCREDIBLE. I also need the second book immediately, but I still haven't gotten a shipping update so we are impatiently waiting for now. 

The African mythology and lore was beautifully done, and all of the characters were sympathetic. As much as Karina drove me crazy, I get where her head is at throughout this book because I was also a combative teenager with a chip on my shoulder and a me-against-the-world mentality. I also connected with Malik's fragility and vulnerability but determination in spite of his struggles. All of the characters are just very well done, and I really really enjoyed this book!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, Violence, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Colonisation

Minor: Self harm