Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Musím tě zradit by Ruta Sepetys

77 reviews

c_serpent's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This was very well written. However, the first 60% were just <i>constant</i> fear, oppressive and claustrophobic observation, and paranoia. Honestly, it was almost impossible to get through.

When the actual revolution started, and everyone was being tortured and shot and dragged around by police and imprisoned, things were actually happening, and even if they were horrible things, it became possible to continue the story. Anything is better than just paranoid obsessing over whether or not your family and friends are betraying you. (They always, always are.)

This book was well written, and it was hard to get through, and I didn't enjoy it. I'm gonna give Sepetys another chance, because her writing is great. But boy howdy. Wow. I'm glad this book is done.

Three stars for Cristian and Liliana. Two stars have been removed because this book might have shortened my lifespan.

Total score: 3/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Excrement

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism

arlingtonchamberofgay's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Police brutality

ana_maria5's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

alli295's review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Great book with fabtastic historical research. The history is real, the characters fictional. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, War, and Injury/Injury detail

quirkyaquarian's review against another edition

dark informative tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Not as good as Salt by the Sea, but I still learned a lot about Romania and was captivated enough to finish it in 4 hours. Characters could’ve been more fleshed out and some of their relationships were rushed. It also felt overly dramatic (but that’s fine for a YA book) and I genuinely disliked most of the characters unfortunately. The tension created was immaculate though and I enjoyed the varying writing formats. I’m very curious to know the truth contained in the files.

Cici was done so dirty though. Cristian is incredibly hypocritical and yet he never has to answer for it? It’s very clear she paid the price with her body and yet only a sentence is dedicated to acknowledging that trauma?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Excrement

yuna's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I wish New Adult was more accepted in tradpub because I think this might have benefited from being told from the POV of a university student rather than high school. Wasn't a fan of the super short chapters--didn't think they heightened tension or kept it feeling "fast" since a lot of the time it caused a hard reset. Drama felt more manufactured than natural and horrifying.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

earphoness's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Police brutality, and War

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

lyzz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This is my second Ruta Sepetys' book after reading Salt to the Sea several years ago. I loved this one just as much as Salt to the Sea.  

This book is set on the cusp of the Romanian Revolution in 1989.  Starting this book, I knew next to nothing about Romania aside from them having great gymnasts.  The book focuses on a teenager named Cristian who is recruited to be part of the spy network run by the Romanian government.  

This is a fantastic book.  It was informative, fast-paced and thoughtful. I learned so much about the country of Romania in this book. It makes me want to learn more about their history and their culture. This was a different type of historical fiction for me - historical thriller. I *loved* the pacing of this book. There are short chapters and the book clips along. Sometimes books that focus on pacing are short on character development - but I thought the author did a thoughtful amount of development of the main character and his family members.  

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. This would be a perfect book for someone trying out historical fiction or a seasoned reader.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, and War

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

This focuses on state sponsored blackmail by recruiting a teenager to report on his family and friends. This leads to a state of paranoia throughout the book. There is state sponsored violence by depriving the citizen's of food, heat and medical care. Cristian's grandfather is tortured to death and found in their apartment. Towards the end of the book, there is a revolution and there is graphic scenes of death, torture, murder, police brutality. There are also references to Cristian's sister being involved in state sponsored prostitution/sexual assault.

haley49's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was a good account of a teenager’s view of Soviet-era Romania. I didn’t know much about the time period and it was surreal learning what they went through. I like how the author clearly aims for authenticity and has a really thoughtful note at the end. It reminded me of why I love historical fiction and of it’s capacity to bring future change. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Torture, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment