Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Doctor's Discretion by E.E. Ottoman

5 reviews

yourbookishbff's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.5

EE Ottoman delivers on a really rich setting and sense of place in a heavily plot-driven and STRESSY story that had me genuinely on edge at several points. I really appreciated the reflection on healthcare during the Yellow Fever epidemic, the strong focus on medical history (and how it intersects with anti-trans violence in horrific ways), the political intrigue, and our characters' intersectional identities and experiences. A hard-won romance between a Black, cisgender man and a white, trans man working as physicians in New York City in the 1830s. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Racism

Moderate: Slavery and Homophobia

On transphobia: this plot centers on the rescue of a trans man from a hospital (he has been arrested and given to the hospital for study - it's horrific and described on page), and centers anti-trans violence and persecution. The main characters also navigate transphobia, as our cisgender main character does not respond well to our trans main character when he comes out to him. This is resolved on page but is a conflict between main characters and navigates transphobia within the context of intimate queer relationships.

booksthatburn's review against another edition

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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Sexual content

Moderate: Racism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexism, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Alcohol

Minor: Slavery

jess_justmaybeperfect's review

emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

Set in 1931 NYC, this book tells the story of two doctors, William a black man and Augustus a white trans man with a war injury that left him disabled. Brought together by a job, then attraction, and then to seek justice, William and Augustus face their fears, misconceptions, and some of the worst medical professionals in history. 

The insta lust to romance, sex work is work, intimacy, intersectionality, and thoughtfulness of this book really worked for me. 

There were perhaps too many subplots for such a short book, leaving the last third of it feeling a bit rushed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, War, Outing, Transphobia, and Violence

Minor: Slavery

onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Slavery, and Transphobia

Minor: Racism

andloveistoolong's review

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Outing, Transphobia, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Racism

Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Alcohol, Classism, Confinement, and Sexual assault

Minor: Slavery and Dysphoria