Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

38 reviews

breezypeach's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Lina’s sister is found murdered, she has to find out what happened to her. To achieve this she apprentices under a highly regarded medium in Paris. The two are invited back to the London Seance Society to investigate a murder, and as they begin to investigate they find there is many more connections and conspiracies than initially expected. This was a really fun read. The mystery was fun and definitely kept me coming back for more. However, I really didn’t like the secondary POV and how that ended up basically being the means to which the reader learns what actually happened. I would have enjoyed the story much more just from Lina’s perspective.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Murder, Violence, Sexism, and Sexual assault

avibc316's review

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Sexism

growintogardens's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

A lot of promise, but the characters just didn't click for me and the pacing was too slow at times. It sucks because queer characters and the setting had me so excited for this book and historical mysteries are my jam. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Sexism, Murder, Violence, Grief, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

ktdakotareads's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, and Sexism

megan_f_hobbs's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Murder

whimsylee's review

adventurous mysterious medium-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

3.75

Loved the Victorian spiritualism  and the sapphic romance. The mystery pulled me in and compelled me to keep reading. Some of the writing was redundant and I personally disliked the use of misogyny in this book. If you like spooky/historical mysteries and sapphic romance, I recommend this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Grief, Blood, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexism, and Alcohol

Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

cassie7e's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

2.5

Best thing about this book is the gay and bi rep. Too slow and somewhat predictable for me, often re-explains points already shown in the scene, and was really not into how big a role predatory men played in the plot.
Not a bad book, just didn't grip me and I finished out of obligation.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual content

emilywemily6's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

This one is kind of hard for me to rate, especially because I loved Penner’s first book! The writing at the beginning was hard to follow and so I was confused for the first half of the book that the beginning seance was Evie’s. The first half was kind of slow while the second half got more interesting and definitely picked up speed. I feel like these characters were overly sexualized and the focus on lust detracted from the story and from the other personality traits of the characters- literally everyone is obsessed with sex in this book. I found the society’s secrets very intriguing and how the scandal kept growing, though some of the “twists” were very predictable. I also feel like the ending wrapped up too nicely because of the paranormal being able to do things these characters could not. Lenna did some stupid things and often didn’t even try to fight her way out of tricky situations. I would have appreciated a bit more effort on her part. This book feels  different than Penner’s previous and while I generally enjoyed it, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Death

Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcohol

mgmotley's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Murder, and Sexism

goldenjunegem's review

fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Death, and Blood