Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Balloon Thief by Aneesa Marufu

5 reviews

farfetched's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

A fantastic debut novel, it leaps right into tackling racism, prejudice and discrimination. Khadija definitely got her chance to shine, and I loved that this book made a point of saying that racial discrimination is not the only kind that exists. There is a prominent transgender character who is respected by the main characters and the narrative. I never quite knew how it was going to end, or that anyone was safe until the end of the book, the action running right up until the end, but didn't feel that rushed in my opinion. I'm looking forward to the sequel! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death, Blood, and Sexism

Minor: Transphobia

beathebumblebee's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Classism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Violence and Murder

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-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? No

3.0

The Balloon Thief was a story that I have decidedly mixed feelings about. Maybe it was because I had a very stop and start experience with it.

The beginning of the novel was really strong. It had easy-to-follow worldbuilding, snappy and fast-paced plotting, and strong characterisation. I really liked the fact that Aneesa Marufu included a

trans character called Anam, I thought that arc was really well done

.

I think the problem started when Marufu tried to introduce a secondary male character and make him the MC's

love interest

, and despite Marufu's attempts to make it work, I just didn't feel any chemistry between them. When they finally

kiss

I didn't feel it at all.

And while the main conflict between the Ghadaeans and the Hāri was established well - as were the rebel groups that play a key role in the novel - it later became a bit too heavy-handed for my liking. I also felt the ending was rushed.

It was a fun read with some good action scenes, but ultimately I didn't fall in love with it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Blood, Transphobia, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent and Genocide

Minor: War

queergoth_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

I found this quite slow in the beginning and honestly I wasn't really enjoying it. It was good but I was struggling. Then I got half way through and it all kicked off. I could not put it down. Overall it ended up being a very satisfying. Worth sticking with it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Murder, Violence, Death, and Racism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Confinement, War, Gore, and Slavery

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Transphobia

rackle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, Grief, Transphobia, War, Death, and Racism

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, and Blood