Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

13 reviews

readingbee416's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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

3.0

This book was a wild ride. I enjoyed it overall and Caethari is a wonderful cinnamon roll character that deserves the whole world (and Markel, too), but MIND THE TRIGGERS. This book has some very dark bits and the author makes some interesting choices.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Death, Sexual assault, Outing, Rape, and Animal cruelty

purplepenning's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Violence, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Sexism, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Body horror, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Classism, Animal death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Outing, Self harm, Vomit, and Xenophobia

Though it's a well-handled journey of healing, a main point of view character experiences significant trauma early in and deals with trauma recovery for much of the book.

sissizc's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Animal death, Sexual assault, Murder, Blood, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Self harm, Rape, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Vomit

hades_hotline's review against another edition

4.25

the best part of this book was definitely the characters and their dynamics.  i loved the relationship dynamic, the love was so gentle and so beautiful. plot was there but mainly as a vehicle for character development, tho i did appreciate the little plot twist and fast paced (and tense) ending. kept me on my toes and engaged in the story beyond the relationship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Grief, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Homophobia, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

Minor: Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury

tracilynn33's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide attempt, and Murder

sashahc's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

I just finished “A Strange and Stubborn Endurance” by Foz Meadows.  It features an arranged political marriage of husbands, one from a homophobic society and one from a progressive one.  There is light magic and deep court intrigue.  Both characters, while awkward in their own ways, are competent and interesting.  The developing relationship is sweetly written and does NOT feature the kind of ham fisted misunderstandings that make me roll my eyes.  I was very sad that the second in the series won’t be out for nearly a YEAR.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, and Animal cruelty

There is a sexual assault at the beginning of the #book that gives one of the characters PTSD and suicidal ideation. There are several murders, including of an animal. There is old abuse discussed. For all that, it still has a cozy vibe because of the core relationship.

momogajo's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Homophobia, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism

camiye's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

Loved the universe created in this story it made the plot and characters the more special and unique

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Grief, Blood, Self harm, and Vomit

fl0tsam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Read this book!
It feels like a queer dream come true as in the main character is saved from his rigid homophobic, heteronormative and misogynistic country of origin. Instead he gets the chance to start a life in a queer dream come true country which is much more accepting and diverse.
Tragedy is followed by hope. The mysterious going ons will have you on the edge of your seat.

It's a really good mix of feelings and character development and enticing plot.

I couldn't stop and I'm in love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm

ros_lanta's review

4.25

I really enjoyed A Strange and Stubborn Endurance. It fits very easily into a small niche of romance novels which I adore - SFF with politics or court intrigue, and a central relationship based as much or more on friendship and mutual support as romance. 

I very quickly became invested in not only the two central characters but also Markel, who is Velasin's valet and best friend. Their friendship is a joy to read and I really appreciate the inclusion of sign language and disability in the book (Markel is mute). 

You may wish to check out content warnings before reading this book. Some of the events are not easy to read, and one character in particular deals with a lot of trauma - largely handled well I think, though I don't profess to be the right person to judge this. 

Overall I really liked this book, and I am very much looking forward to the sequel. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Animal cruelty