Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

250 reviews

teaqueen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

I really loved this book. I did have to take quite a long break after reading a few chapters, there was a lot from the book reflected in the world at that time and it was a bit too draining to get through just then, but I'm so glad I came back and finished it. 

I always get a bit lost with new characters as the story progresses and I forget peoples names, but I liked these characters. There's usually something about the main character or the love interest or their "love story" that really just annoys me because I don't like how love stories just HAVE to play a part in every damn book. This one wasn't too annoying, the focus wasn't on that, and rightly so. You could tell time was taken on each characters back story and they weren't just thrown in as filler. They have beliefs and experiences that made them the way they are, and I liked the progression and revelations of the last few chapters.

You can tell this is the authors first book because there were moments where a person or a place or a creature was introduced to the story and the descriptions here were a bit lacking, I found myself struggling to picture what was going on and wanting to know MORE, and that is really why I'm giving this book 4 stars and not 5.

I am looking forward to the next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

tinyjude's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I am always ready for some book that stands for kicking the patriarchy in the ass. It follows many of the clichés typical of the ya fantasy genres but it is still very enjoyable (and is more diverse than the most known ya fantasy/sci-fi books). 

In addition, never had I imagined that I would enjoy again a straight main couple, but they were very cute and I loved how devoted he was to her. She deserves to be happy and not suffer any longer. 

Also, Ixa's sole existence adds points to the book. I LOVE TINY, AFORABLE AND FEROCIOUS CREATURES THAT ACCOMPANY THE PROTAGONIST AHHHHHHH

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Homophobia and Lesbophobia

eclectic_hellscape's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Violence

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence

frankieclc's review

4.0

I think the arc of self worth redemption in this book out weighs how graphic the violence was 

really interesting and rather unique world building/storyline in general

will b reading book 2 when it comes out for sure

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and War

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, and Torture

jens037's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

neomreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-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

In a world where women have to take a test to see if their blood is pure and if it is not they get sentenced to something worse than death. Deka is someone who did not have pure blood.


I loved the design of the characters and the African culture references(? Is this how you say it ?)
There was a lot of mentions of sexism and racism

I believed the book was very fast paced

<spoilers> for instance, I wanted more details of the training and the expeditions rather than just skipping it to the next major plot event 

It focused too much one the main character I believe and I think the character became too much of a Mary Sue?- idk I think she just became someone with no flaws
</spoilers>

I did love the gods, also, for every female character, for you 👑

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Murder, and War

There was mention if human trafficking

zikin's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

I enjoyed parts of this book, and I liked the main character/characters. My biggest reason for not giving it 4 stars is the gore. I found the graphic descriptions of violence and abuse off-putting. I will read the sequel though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

swilli's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape

xavienne's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Violence

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

whatjasread's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring 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

4.0

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would! Not too sure that I'm desperate to continue the series, but this book was very different to what I expected. The writing was great, though a little slow at times and could probably have been a little shorter with some decent editing. Plotwise this was predictable but not in a bad way, I enjoyed seeing the story unfold. I do wish there was a bit more focus on Deka's Uruni bond with Keita. I also wish the queer relationship was a bit more obvious and woven through the story, as it felt a bit like an afterthought.

TWs: racism, colourism, sexism, sexual harassment, illness, murder, graphic violence, gore, blood, death, stab wounds, torture, body-shaming, scarring, vomiting, ref to rape, sexual assault, fat-shaming, dismemberment, body horror, death of mother (before book)

Tropes/rep/themes: war, legends, sapphic SCs, found family, ritual bonding

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Murder, and War

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Death of parent