Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Mercy by Ian Haramaki

11 reviews

keioyana's review

dark emotional reflective tense slow-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

* Stuck between a 4.25-4.5 star rating if I'm being honest !!

This was such an interesting experience! I would say that there are a lot of topics touched upon in this book that would be triggering to others -

Heavy descriptions of abuse from a heavily intoxicated mother, collective homophobia in a conservative community, corruption in religious organisations, etc, etc.

The writing is not too wordy or dense for it taking place in a more fantastical setting. I will say that the usage of modern lingo did throw me for a loop for a story that takes place in the 1920s, but I was alright with letting it slide under the guise of it being in a fantasy world far unlike our own. Who knows, maybe they're just more advanced in terms of language? Lol. 

Ilya and Danya's relationship was so... Domestic. They're so soft with one another that they just grew on me. I think that their contrasting personalities fit well together. I loved how much they showed care for one another, how their relationship blossomed as the story progressed... I think it's just so well-crafted. 

All in all, great read. It got me out of a depressive reading slump!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent

rayneelee's review

dark lighthearted medium-paced

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

1.5

Interesting concept- poor execution. The characterizations of the two main lead felt inconsistent and all over the place. The dialogue felt too modern and conflicted with the setting, which was underdeveloped and confusing. The main plot doesn’t really start until around 70% of the way through the book. Way too much telling instead of showing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Violence, Homophobia, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Infidelity

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

grownmoss's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

i just can’t stop thinking about those sad little gay men 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent

laraloops's review

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.75

The cover is beautiful. To keep this review kind (as this is a smaller, queer production) I will just say the book was not quite my cup of tea. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual content

celestepaed's review

emotional lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.25

This book is for people who wanted a version of Priest by Sierra Simone that doesn’t make them feel icky about religion or sex. The love between the two main characters is just so pure even if the things they get up to aren’t. The cyclical, anxiety thoughts of the main narrator are authentic and the undoing of said thoughts by the love interest felt natural and earned.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Blood, Homophobia, Grief, and Kidnapping

maximauve's review

emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Bullying

puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Cursing

Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body horror, Cannibalism, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

reila's review

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

The concept and cover art piqued my interest to pick up this book! Ah, but perhaps I put too much in the action/fantasy element, what with the premise of a priest staving off creatures of the Night and all. No, the monsters our pairing fights off are the people and the environment. The denizens of whom our priest Ilya is in service are very ungrateful and hateful to him---especially his mother. These grown adults have been beefing with Ilya since he was 7 years old over something he had no control over. The self-deprecation and angst run strong. My man is 30 and doing his best.

Said townsfolk and alcoholic/abusive mother do not get better. RIP. When Ilya comes out to his surrogate grandmother/guardian, it's painful that she isn't immediately accepting. It sucks being in that situation. Berta is our one supporter, thanks to her positive relationship with Danya. But when the time comes to show solidarity, it's at a strained time where, even if she said something sooner, it wouldn't do anything for the unfolding events.

Our former beast/angel Danya isn't what you'd expect. 'Angel' wouldn't be the first thing you think of with the sailor mouth he has, but the contradictory nature is the allure of the pairing

(bad-mouthing angel himbo and his repressed slutty priest---is it really a spoiler? You know why you picked up this book :) LOL)

. His past and potential unfold as he realizes his raison d'etre: to protect, love, and support his Beloved. A very sweet 'we complete one another' sentiment. Their confession is quite the scene.

Because of the baggage our poor priest has, processing the immensity of his hurts made it a slow read to savor. Consent and aftercare are important and very sexy, by the way. I admit the liberal use of curse words and contemporary-isms consistently threw me from the world, but it also had the secondary effect of snapping me out of Ilya's ruminations---*raises glass* <i>heed this lesson, fellow overthinkers</i>---apart from being relatable, I thought it was funny (which is very much a 'me' thing). So, if you're in the mood for a comfort/hurt romantic fantasy, come get your food!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Homophobia, and Alcoholism

haileeraye's review

adventurous dark emotional funny tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Emotional abuse, Violence, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Blood, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent

elliottjunkyard's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Grief