Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

80 reviews

bthebookworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK! It’s such a thrilling and heart-wrenching story. When I read it the first time (April 2023), I did have some trouble getting into it because of the world building and language. For someone who was fairly new to reading sci-fi, it was too many things to keep track off. A color coded caste system, people’s names, places, weapons, tools, etc, all with their own various intricacies. The first 100ish pages do drag a tiny bit compared to the latter half when they’re in the Institute. Once we get there, the pace picks up and hits breakneck speed lol. 

Reading it this second time around (Jan 2024), it was easier to retain. I had to read it so soon after because I could not stop thinking about this series! Loved getting to see the characters in a different lens— Darrow’s journey just breaks your heart to see. He wants to do the right thing and go about it the right way but, he can’t. He has to get his hands dirty and it eats away at him. One of my favorite tropes. Yes, lots of the characters are not as fleshed out as would be ideal, but you have to remember that’s it’s part of a series! Plus, it’s only the first installment, there’s only so much time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape

kelseeeg's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense 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

This book was entertaining to a certain point, definitely similar to hunger games. The setting in the beginning part was more interesting to me because it was more focused on the space aspect. The book doesn’t take a very intersectional view point (discusses class but mostly stays within white cishet patriarchal norms)—disappointing and distracting from the plot. It was creative but it read a little small-minded at times. I’ll read the next one though, I am curious where it will go and how it might grow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Rape

tiana_king's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Somehow a mix between Outlander, The Hunger Games, and 1984. But put it in space ✨ Sometimes the main character irritated me with his impulsivity and naïveté but then I’d remember he’s 17 so I’m sure that was on purpose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death and Body shaming

Minor: Cannibalism

aliciaallisonmorgan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Murder

naechan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Classism

tbiars's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

 O livro descreve um mundo distópico dividido por cores, com uma hierarquia em que todas as cores servem à cor superior, em busca da supremacia dos dourados. O protagonista, Darrow de Lykos, é um vermelho que trabalha nas minas de Marte, extraindo hélio-3, um combustível essencial para a colonização do sistema solar. O livro critica o sistema capitalista e governos totalitários, utilizando referências à filosofia de Platão, em particular sua obra "A República".

A história apresenta personagens moralmente complexos, explorando diferentes pontos de vista e demonstrando que não existe apenas um lado certo ou errado. O autor também utiliza elementos da cultura greco-romana e conhecimentos de biologia para fundamentar o enredo de uma sociedade séculos à nossa frente e superiores "biologicamente".

Embora a trilogia seja de alta qualidade, o primeiro livro poderia ter desenvolvido melhor o vínculo emocional com os personagens, com exceção de Sevro, o que resultou em certa indiferença em relação às mortes ao longo da história. No entanto, a habilidade de Pierce Brown na escrita técnica, retratando a ambientação e as distintas culturas das diferentes cores, é maravilhosa para a ambientação do leitor.
E por isso, eu abaixei um pouco a nota do livro de 4,5 para 3,5 estrelas. Mas que de modo algum reflete toda a qualidade de escrita dele, pois o que contou para mim nessa nota foi totalmente minha experiência com a leitura. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence

blackbird300's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I’m mad that I enjoyed this so much. My biggest issue with the entire book lies with the fact that nearly every femme-presenting character introduced in the story is assaulted at some point. Yes, many of them are well developed characters, but it does not erase the fact that they were assaulted/nearly assaulted. That fact alone feels out of place in the entire plot. 
This first book belongs solidly within the YA genre. The plot moves at break neck pace, losing the reader first at the beginning, but once accustomed, it becomes easy. Certain plot points are wrapped up quickly upon being introduced, but all strings are tied at the very end. 
I’ve been wrestling with myself as to whether or not I should purchase the sequel…and my answer is a solid yes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

aelytacchan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I can't say I understand why Red Rising is a fan favorite. It wasn't bad, but its tempo is so gruelling that I almost DNFd it - saved only by the fact I already had all the audiobooks from a past sale.

I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, but I found a lot of it foul. I think that might be on purpose, but a lot of the violence seemed unnecessary and out of bounds even for the world's laws and customs.

Women were constantly used as symbols, to further plot points, or as convenient caretakers. Despite there being women peppered into the story, they were mostly inconsequential or, when they were of consequence, they just naturally decided they would rather follow Darrow.

I'll take some time to reflect on whether I want to invest more time into the following books, seeing as they're somewhat on the longer side, but as of now, I don't particularly feel like jumping into the next part of the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

haley49's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

This was very violent and graphic but so so powerful. This world explores the violence of power hierarchies. The caste system is not perfect nor is the world explored entirely but it does such a good job at what it tries to. It is a slow burn corruption arc where the mmc just barely figures out his errors but the ending still leaves room for doubt. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and War

marla_arguelles's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and War