Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Das verborgene Spiel by M.L. Rio

69 reviews

branthegremblin's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

maddiebennet's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

I don't really know if this is a 5 stars or a 4.75, it kinda depends on the day but its been a week since I finished this and I CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!! I am so unwell I can't even begin to explain it. They're so me fr
I am really inlove with Oliver Alexander and specially James, I can't fr

I am in a state of constant denial literally Oliver and James got fucking married I don't have a single doubt Im not even kidding like I just KNOW James is alive and he knows Oliver is going to find him because they know each other in a way that only them can understand. They are soulmates but they are also more than that. shut up I need like a sequel or something IM BEGGING M L RIO

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Addiction, Sexual harassment, and Sexism

gologel's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

There's almos nothing in this book I could critique without it being picky, without it being looking for a needle in a haystack - except for some characters acting - or not acting - as plausibly, logically as you might expect them to.

The drama unfolding, with every act a new aspect spinning the character's world around, the book's telling you they're doomed and you watch the horror unfold more and more.

Do I think that the ending is a shocking plottwist? No. 
But the ending is such a great tragedy that I was completely - emotionally and physically - captured, the kind of tragedy I long for. A defeaning applause would resound as the actors depart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexism, Drug abuse, Murder, Blood, Cursing, Alcohol, Addiction, and Suicide

Minor: Homophobia and Vomit

sophie8's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

A reread for me, and one of my favourite books. I absolutely love it, and would reccomend it to anyone who likes to read, no background Shakespeare knowledge needed. It's so easy to get into, the dynamics are addictive, it will make you laugh, break your heart, and on the second read through you can truly appreciate the equisite foreshadowing and literary parallels. The prose is beautiful, while still being perfectly readable, and the characters make speaking in Shakespeare quotes actually seem fun, witty and amusing. Could read it back to back no problem!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Gore, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

Minor: Violence, Suicide, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Grief

The only bit I'd call 'gore' is when they find *you know who's* dead body, but it's pretty graphic! Also, Meredith is slut shamed several times, which I've listed as sexism.

oakairi's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Bullying, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Misogyny, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Sexual content, Blood, and Vomit

rainydayswithbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

Omg...A masterpiece! The story unfolds in an incredibly special way, poetically and emotionally. An all-round successful work that is special in so many ways. The writing style is unique and ingenious, as it incorporates Shakespeare's quotes and yet tells a completely new story. The quotes, plays and characters from Shakespeare are always closely intertwined with the main characters and the actual story. The division of the book into the 5 acts and scenes give the impression of a script, which is reinforced by the partially inserted stage directions. At the beginning, you get the atmosphere of seven motivated students who are passionate about their art. I would have loved to have been part of the group of friends myself, watching one of the improvised plays or reading books by the fireplace with the group in the castle library... Dark academia vibes at their finest! But then everything changes and becomes more and more dark, sinister and mysterious. You no longer really trust anyone and can't predict the ending. I find it amazing how the author allows the characters to merge more and more with the characters they play on stage. As a reader, you realise how much you can lose yourself in art, but also the dangers this harbours. You quickly lose sight of reality. I liked Oliver's words that as an actor you feel all emotions twice - your own from real life and the fictional feelings of the characters. The two merge together, making it much more intense. You can also see this in the group's friendship: every relationship is always characterised by a charged intensity. Hate, love, mistrust, betrayal, solidarity, hero, victim- always close together, constantly changing. Filippa was the most consistent member of the group, although we can assume that this is more of a mask than an actual strong character. Oliver once said to her that she was the pillar of the friendgroup and had to stay strong and not doubt. If she had given up, everything might have fallen apart sooner or turned out very differently. Ironically, this is one of the best proofs of her extraordinary acting ability, although she is always the one who is least expected to play the big roles. A literary tragedy by a contemporary author who we will hopefully be reading a lot more of in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Blood, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, and Sexism

astridaw's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Intriguing, tense plotline with superinteresting character and friendship dynamics. I wasn't super shocked by the ending but still liked it a lot, but found that there were still some unanswered plot holes that could have been developed more (and made the story even more interesting).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Murder, and Drug abuse

Minor: Suicide and Sexism

julells's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book is frustrating, gut-wrenching and absolutely heartbreaking.
I hated it.
Go read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Toxic friendship, Grief, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Sexism, Bullying, Classism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Drug use, and Sexual content

gussurireads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0

Pretensioso, com uma prosa terrível cheia de más comparações (uma bengala da autora que não consegui ignorar) e uma personagem principal cujo ponto de vista é por vezes irritante, por outras misógino - portanto, irritantemente misógino?

Passo a citar uma das frases que mais me chocou,  p. 139 Ato II, "Felizmente, não estava excessivamente maquilhada e continuava a parecer humana." Isto é a observação da personagem principal (um homem) sobre uma das suas melhores amigas, com quem ele se envolve romanticamente, e que apenas a vê como um objeto de desejo, enquanto o seu amor verdadeiro é outro homem. Será pedir muito que autoras mulheres não odeiem outras mulheres nos seus livros?

Relativamente ao enredo e o motivo pelo qual segui a recomendação de leitura (proveniente de uma das minhas booktubers favoritas, nem acredito na desilusão): o mistério do assassinato torna-se relativamente óbvio no início do Ato III. O livro é composto por 5 atos e estava a custar-me continuar a leitura desde o primeiro ato. Tornou-se mais interessante conforme a tensão foi aumentando, mas creio que grande parte do combustível que alimentou está leitura foi a minha própria teimosia em ver a minha teoria sobre o assassino confirmada (e foi confirmada!).

O plot twist no epílogo que todos falaram foi... Ok. Não sou muito fã deste tipo de epílogos e creio que não beneficiou em nada a narrativa, sendo que o mais interessante de "Como Se Fôssemos Vilões" é mesmo toda a tensão e drama criado em torno do ambiente obsessivo em que estes jovens vivem. Fora isso, resta apenas uma prosa pobre e personagens estereotipados, com pouca profundidade. 

Recomendo a leitura se estiverem presos numa cabine sem internet e este for o único livro entre uma coleção de livros da Coleen Hoover.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Drug use, Alcoholism, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Minor: Suicide

yzer2468's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Cursing, Gaslighting, Blood, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Gore, Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexism, Violence, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Eating disorder

Minor: Vomit, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault