Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

100 reviews

deepfriedaries's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

erenreads12's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.75

I had some doubt about this book at some points, and almost didn't end up finishing, but ultimately I am glad I did. Although clunky in places after about a third of the way in the author truly gained mastery over the pace and characters. The writing developed into a beautiful use of language to pull together a sci-fi-based commentary of a world not dissimilar from our own.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Abortion

btrz7's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

skudiklier's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is incredibly engaging and unique. It would be easy to describe it as

slavery but in space

and nothing else but that, but there's so much more to it. Because there's a different hierarchical system in place, it shows new ways people maintain control over others. Additionally, the relationships between the various characters are so complex, and it doesn't take the easy way out of focusing on some sort of romance as a happy ending. Also, side note,

Aster is totally autistic and I really loved getting to see myself in her character in that way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

scribblesandsuch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

This book is incredible. It is so much and everything more. I feel lucky to have read it. It covers graphic and difficult topics, but the plot has so much momentum I was able to move with it. It felt inexplicably real but just enough fantasy for it to be bearable- I don't have the words for what this book means to me in this moment. I think it is a special read that will stay withmee

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Death of parent

This contains heavy topics, please take care of yourself as you read it, but if you can, I think it is worth it

charlieleelee's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Child death, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Moderate: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Grief

caitlinjadams's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Infertility, Suicide, and Abortion

kelseyland's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

An extremely heavy book about a generational spacecraft on which the white ruling class uses religion and brute force to enslave the Black servant class. I loved the abundance of queer and neurodiverse characters and the relationships between them, as well as the overall arc of the story. Please heed the content warnings as this is not a book to pick up lightly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death of parent

joyride's review against another edition

4.75

Objectively, this book is a beautiful masterpiece. The last 1/3rd felt a little bit rushed, but other than that- exquisite. I saw so much of myself in these characters & Solomon wrote these marginalized voices so well (neurodivergent, gender non-comforming, non-cis, etc). Fae explored these themes so well, especially fae explore these concepts in a sci-fi context. In this world, the explicit label of 'nonbinary' is not really a thing, so fae have the creative freedom to express that in this specific context. And fae explore it in some really interesting ways.

However, personally, my enjoyment was dampened by how triggering some of the content was. The content warnings on the book's page is very accurate, but I would add a content warning for mentions of unreality, delusions and intrusive thoughts, specifically by Giselle. Specifically,

she believes that there is a poison that can only kill her, that Aster (the main character) is trying to kill her in some scenes, and after being the victim of abuse she refuses to leave her room, saying it is dangerous. She also details some of her intrusive thoughts in a later chapter- she thinks she can't die, that she wants to destroy Aster's plants, wants to set fire to her lab, etc. She struggles against these thoughts, saying she knows that acting on these hurtful impulses will make her feel guilty later, but she still does because it's cathartic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Murder

drchronicallyreading's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book reminded me a lot of a movie I love! I wish there had been more detail on certain aspects of the book and felt some aspects could have had a tiny bit less. Very well written and enjoyed!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder