Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

47 reviews

enter_the_phantom's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Animal death

wylovat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Hate crime, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Death of parent, Rape, Sexism, and War

lyndsay_bibliophile's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

"The Reformatory" is a powerful and important read. It's a book that will stay with you, urging reflection and action. Highly recommended, but be prepared for the emotional wringer. Set just 74 years ago, a blink in history, it's a brutal reminder of the horrors inflicted under Jim Crow and the dehumanizing systems that still linger today. This is a story that feels alarmingly relevant, its weight settling like an ache in my chest.

Due's incredible storytelling weaves suspense, sadness, and even glimmers of humor, creating characters so real they stay with you long after the final page. This book confronts uncomfortable truths, challenging us to examine our own responses to systemic injustice.

The author's note is essential and the suggested reading list is great to consider adding to your TBR. This book isn't just a compelling read; it's a catalyst for understanding, action, and dismantling the remnants of those same dehumanizing systems that continue to cast long shadows.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Rape, Child death, Police brutality, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Racism, and Religious bigotry

starrysunshine's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

amloth's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder

yrsbrn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Gun violence

leslielikesthings's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Child abuse, Violence, Child death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Torture, Death of parent, and Hate crime

Minor: Lesbophobia, Antisemitism, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Rape

cossenbeck's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Child death, Sexual violence, and Grief

confidentleeme's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

WOW! WOW! If you want to read a book to stir up some feelings.. THAT is thee one! The horror literally is how Black males are treated. When I say this book gave me so much anxiety!! And only anxiety bc we know the feelings that surround being Black in this country. Ms. Due did a great job transporting us to the Jim Crow era. Will I read this again? Likely not bc it is HEAVY! But if you have the space for it, I highly recommend

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Racism, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

mondovertigo's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Animal death, Violence, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Sexual violence, Racism, Hate crime, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Child death, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Minor: War