Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

98 reviews

majesticisme's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking

The entire focus of this book is systemic womens’ oppression within a fairytale/kingdom/fantasy setting, so if that is a topic which is triggering to you then I suggest you do not read. Women are objectified, harassed, married against their will, etc. but of course described by the author in a negative way. A woman is decapitated as she is falsely accused of assisting the main character. Another thing that may be triggering is a brief horse death as well as a bunny death which is more detailed.

holiday7's review

adventurous emotional funny informative mysterious sad fast-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

5.0

I don't really know what to say besides I loved the book. It was really good. And I think it was a really good story. Also, stan Constance. I live for her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Kidnapping

bzliz's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced

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

3.75

In a harrowing world where women are commodities to be bought and sold, used and abused, Sophia desires more. She’s memorized the story of Cinderella just as the King has mandated and she has a few qualms with the lessons the citizens of Lille are supposed to learn from it. Sophia’s best friend (and first love), Erin, makes it clear that she’s not willing to go against the grain of society to hopefully live in exile with Sophia. Heartbroken, Sophia attends the annual (mandatory) ball where men get to select wives for themselves and the girls have absolutely no say in anything but she escapes after her friend Liv is singled out by the cruel king and dragged away. She meets Constance while taking refuge in Cinderella’s tomb, who offers her an escape, a chance at freedom, and eventually an opportunity to kill the king and fix their broken society. 

The world is pretty vivid in how horrible it is. Abuse of all kinds apparently runs rampant and people truly just ignore it in hopes that they won’t get executed for speaking out. Obviously some people aren’t chill with what’s going on but they keep to themselves for the most part because they’re punished if they do speak out. I liked Sophia’s connection with Luke but I wish it was more substantial- like they’d been friends for a while and he really had a reason to stick his neck out for her- because when he came to save her at the ball, it felt unnatural. Like he’s been protecting himself for so long but after a few sassy interactions he feels compelled to protect her so they can both be secretly gay together but still stuck in this horrible place. I’m also confused by Erin’s characterization. She breaks Sophia’s heart by refusing to run away out of her own sense of self preservation and wants to follow the King’s terrible laws, but she already broke rules and norms by having a relationship with Sophia. Someone that set on keeping themself safe doesn’t seem like they’d ever admit or act on any gay feelings. 

I enjoyed the dynamic between Sophia and Constance, and I really liked Amina’s murky morality. Even though it was easy to guess at the “plot twist” of the prince’s secret to youth, I did not see Amina’s plot twist coming. Constance wasn’t a knight in shining armor; she was a solid foundation on which Sophia was able to build her own feelings of rebellion against tyranny and I think the message of “we can stand up to things that are wrong and also girls can save themselves” is a pretty good one to put out in the world. 

Mind the content warnings, especially if you can’t stomach descriptions or discussions of misogyny, sexual assault, physical abuse and domestic violence, and implications of pedophilia. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Slavery, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

zombiezami's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Kidnapping, and Classism

Minor: Bullying and Infidelity

fairyskies's review

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

laineydunne's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

jachnax's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring slow-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

4.0

I liked it but the plot was a little bit all over the place and some stuff was just a bit unlogical and convenient for the characters. Some repetitions were also a little annoying and i would have liked the book to explore the ending a bit more and get some more after. Overall its good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Domestic abuse

wynnie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Suicide, and Trafficking

Far darker than you would initially think, quite a lot of mentions of triggering topics. Sexual violence against women is talked about frequently.

prufrockpreptooth's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Une super lecture !
Je l'ai lu en espagnol, clairement pas la langue dans laquelle je suis la plus à l'aise, donc un peu de mal à entrer dans l'histoire, mais une fois que je suis entrée dedans, je l'ai plus lâchée et j'ai lu plus de 200 pages en 2jours - un vrai record personnellement pour de l'espagnol !
C'est prenant, avec des retournements de situations, un superbe cast de personnages féminins badass, et une certaine rage féministe qui fait du bien. Le tout avec un worldbuilding autour du conte de Cendrillon plutôt sympa - et si on peut prendre deux minutes pour parler de la beauté de cette couverture absolument breathtaking !!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Homophobia

kaiden1565's review

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Sexism and Violence

Minor: Homophobia and Sexual assault