Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

68 reviews

lennie_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death

claire_not_rebecca's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

So many things about this book held so much promise, but up until the last 20%, I was simply bored. Had I not been listening to this on audio, I don’t think I would have finished it. I didn’t find myself carrying about the characters much at all, though I did like Percy okay. However, the main characters (and narrator) was so deeply unbearable as a person that I zoned out regularly

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol

theaceofpages's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted 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

3.75

I'll admit that I don't read a massive amount of historical fiction. But I've heard about this one a few times so I thought I'd give it a try. I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would! Monty is sent for a tour across Europe (under the watch of a chauffer of course!) after he is expelled from Eaton. While he is delighted to be joined by his long time friend (and more recent love interest) Percy (a black son of a duke who is heading off to Holland afterwards), he is less happy that his sister Felicity is being sent along before she goes to finishing school (although she would really rather be a doctor). They manage to lose their chauffer after being attacked by highwaymen and go on their own adventure, chasing the secrets hidden by an artifact Monty stole in France.  The plot felt a bit convoluted at times but overall I enjoyed the journey 

Diverse historical fiction is rare. At least in mainstream spaces. It was delightful to see some broader representation than is common. This one tackles race, sexuality, sexism and the way disorders like epilepsy were treated. I absolutely loved Felicity and her spirit. While there are definitely similarities between her and Monty, she has a compassion he lacks. Monty however... Yeah. He was a bit of a self centred jerk. I do appreciate that he started to mature towards the end and look beyond his own feelings and desires. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Racism

Moderate: Biphobia, Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence and Slavery

sxndaze's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted 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

a fun action-packed romance! the growth monty experiences is lovely and the relationships he develops are satisfying to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, and Kidnapping

Minor: Death of parent

laurensgaylife's review

adventurous funny lighthearted 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: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence and Forced institutionalization

marissasa's review

adventurous funny 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

5.0

I started and finished this book via audiobook and reading along with the physical in just a day. It abso-bloody-lutely consumed me lmao! I was hooked from the start with Monty's strong narrative voice and how bold and crass and humorous and bisexual it was in the face of all the trouble he was constantly getting in. I loved his character even more the further he got fleshed out and I just thought him and each of the other main characters were so well-written, I loved their trio dynamic. The plot is a bit wacky but it is definitely a wild adventure that kept me entertained the whole way through and it never felt like it was dragging on. It was very well-paced for a 500 page book. I was also pretty impressed with how the author handled the range of social issues that would be realistic in the setting and time period, and it felt like one of the few times when a white author wrote about people of color with intention beyond just representation and included racial issues without overstepping or being cringey. This book was so fun to read and definitely a great one to read during pride month so I'm so glad I finally got it off my tbr and into my brain lol.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

bazxi's review

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kmoz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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

This book had absolutely no right to be so cute. Also I wanted to strangle Monty for about half the book, that boy makes terrible choices. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Homophobia, and Sexism

Minor: Gun violence, Slavery, and Blood

elskabee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

4.0

 The hype for this has well and truly died by the time I've gotten around to it, but I can see why it was hyped at the time (and honestly maybe should still be!). Well-rounded, flawed but growing characters are the highlight of this book in my opinion. Monty is an asshat, but he also kind of knows it and his sister and best friend do their best to badger some sense into him. Give me flawed and messy main characters! I love them! 

I also really loved (and was joyfully frustrated by) the angsty friend-to-lovers/idiots-to-lovers plotline. Plus we even get some (I believe) aroace rep in Monty's sister Felicity. Considering that she's firmly a side character and we also see her through the eyes of her brother who does not really get along with her, she was still well characterised enough that I still felt like she was a character with complexities and nuance. I also loved her arc!

I think where this book fell from its possibility of a five star was in the plot. It was okay and kept the characters active, but I just didn't care that much and towards the end felt a little rushed maybe in a haste to wrap things up.

The narrator was excellent and I highly recommend picking up the audiobook for this one! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence and Physical abuse

katie0528's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

A fun adventure following Monty, the rakeish bisexual son of a lord, his younger sister Felicity, who wishes to become a physician, and Percy, Monty's Black best friend who he is desperately in love with. The trio set out on a Grand Tour of Europe but it doesn't take Monty to make an enemy of one of the most powerful men in France who chases them across the continent. There are touches of magic in this novel which I didn't expect at first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Ableism, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Colonisation