Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn

12 reviews

boba_n_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

3.5

Sharks in the Time of Saviors is a contemporary fiction family saga that follows a native Hawaiian family and adds in a touch of magical realism. Readers also get to see the POV of each person int he family. 

Mother, Malia, and her husband, Augie, are struggling to provide for their family of five. Siblings Nainoa (aka Noa), Dean, and Kaui are all trying to find their place in the world. Noa was known as a savior growing up. After being saved from drowning by sharks, Noa discovers some abilities, and Malia starts to believe in the native legends and Hawaiian gods again. Malia and Augie seem to favor Noa, so Dean and Kaui are left to find acceptance elsewhere. Each sibling grapples with their identity as they grow up and try to find their place both in Hawaii and on the mainland as Malia struggles to live life without her children. 

I found some of this novel to be quite slow. There were moments of beautiful atmosphere and ambiance, and the way the novel handled grief was so realistic. I loved a lot of things about it, but I just found that the story didn't have quite the impact I was hoping it would. It might be that the plot didn't hit quite as hard due to me listening to the audiobook. However, I still enjoyed the story and the writing.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Animal death

Moderate: Homophobia, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

_rowantree_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Classism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Confinement, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Misogyny, and Self harm

surprisebear's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Dementia, and Ableism

Moderate: Car accident, Addiction, and Colonisation

urmelmitflossen's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Drug use

bluedilly's review against another edition

hopeful slow-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? Yes

1.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Animal death, Death, and Drug use

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Violence, Sexual content, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Biphobia

danajoy's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Blood, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Car accident, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Police brutality and Pregnancy

andrewhatesham's review against another edition

fast-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Medical content, Gore, and Sexual content

Moderate: Excrement, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Car accident, Drug use, Cursing, Blood, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Minor: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault

jmcampbell57's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Homophobia

Minor: Confinement

internationalreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Death, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia

kelseyorzel's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-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

4.5 stars. Sharks in the Time of Saviors was a very poignant tale of identity, family, poverty, capitalism, and loss. This book was beautifully written, the story was engaging, characters were developed (mostly), and the multiperspective narration that bounces around the members of a Hawaiian family was remarkably well done. So many big themes were explored while keeping the story well-paced and fascinating. I loved how the Hawaiian ethnicity of the central family allowed honest commentary on capitalism and politics from a viewpoint I do not often find in pop fiction. I enjoyed the magical realism elements of this book combined with some traditional Hawaiian mythological exploration. I also highly recommend the audiobook. It was a full-cast narration that was beautifully executed and solidified my connection to the characters

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Death, and Drug use

Minor: Mental illness and Racism