Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

50 reviews

andyourstruly's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

GGtVaV is a very indulgent queer adventure story.  Though the main cast all struggle with their own hardships, external and internal, the reader always knows they'll overcome to get their happy ending, and in that way, despite themes of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, and physical/emotional abuse, it feels very light.

The author studied history in university, so a lot of the historical details of events and cultural norms are more accurate than your average YA novel, but there are still glaring blind spots, like the author not being well-versed in clothing culture or that almost every educated person would have been fluent in French in the early 1700s, particularly if they had a French parent.

My biggest takeaway with it was that, as fantastical as so many elements were, it seems strange that the author didn't just ... write an adventure where people happened to be queer or black or women.  It felt like a strange decision to hand-wave away a lot of actual problems they may have encountered but to really spend a lot of time projecting modern-day feminism onto a character from the era and bringing up homophobia and racism that wasn't even always period-accurate.  Fun book, may read the sequels, not so invested that I'm prioritizing it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

deetabz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Biphobia, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

imskylow's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective 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

4.0

Okay this was actually really adorable. I didn’t know what to expect with a historical yet bi/gay romance but it was handled very well and they even used the strange terminology they would have used back then. I loved the characters and the adventure and the forbidden love. Monty  is a laugh. Percy is an absolute cinnamon roll. And, Felicity is so fierce. I just wish that for all the talk of sex, they could have had a moment. Either talk about it and do it or don’t wave the idea in our faces so much 🤣

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Violence

aliveironically's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

Minor: Self harm

elspethmigliore's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

i really enjoyed this! i’ve read this book around 5 times now because it’s so unique and interesting, and it never fails to impress me. like i was actually obsessed with this book 4 years ago. i will say that the most recent time i’ve read it, i found it to be very difficult to get through and kind of boring, but i think that’s because i know the story so well. 

all of the characters are hilarious and unique and i very much appreciate monty’s growth. i’m excited to finally read the rest of their stories. 

definitely reread material ✅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse and Slavery

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment

quinniepoepie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Racism

littlesnowcloud's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.5

Significantly heavier in topic than the summary blurb suggests, with a bit more magic involved than expected. A good read with good characters. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Medical content, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity

kaz_brekker1's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Biphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, and Vomit

katieanne4's review against another edition

too much happened in this book! truly. too much. and as someone who got too upset while watching "Brave" and almost had to leave the room, some of the things that happened were TOO harrowing, while at the same time being so absurd & over the top it felt ridiculous to be affected. with that said: loved monty's voice, finished it in 2 days, loved the central romance

(but it was NEVER CONSUMMATED not even off-page after being teased SO MANY TIMES like every time they seemed like they were going to get together they had another ridiculous "just talk to each other" fight)

, loved felicity, loved the bad pirates, loved monty's character arc. and of course, loved visiting 1700s europe. so a lot to love, a lot I was frustrated by...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

annabella's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-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

4.25

Monty’s annoying traits through his reckless behaviour did get a bit repetitive at the end although it was fleshed out well and I don’t think the perception of disability was really resolved or depicted as well, but overall was very sweet and exciting to listen to, easy to follow along. Really funny and heartwarming

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Homophobia

Minor: Vomit