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Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'
Being Ace: An Anthology of Queer, Trans, Femme, and Disabled Stories of Asexual Love and Connection by Madeline Dyer
4 reviews
sarah_shelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Favorites
How to Love a Sidewinder
Across the Stars
Give Up the Ghost
Smells Like Teen Virgin
The Third Star
The Mermaid’s Sister
No Cure for Doubts
How to Love a Sidewinder
Across the Stars
Give Up the Ghost
Smells Like Teen Virgin
The Third Star
The Mermaid’s Sister
No Cure for Doubts
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
Content warnings from the book: "Sexual assault, sexual violence, and coercion; abuse (sexual, verbal, emotional, mental, physical); acephobia; transphobia; misgendering; ableism; abduction; death of a parent, a love interest, a sibling, and best friend; bullying; and mental illness including depression, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders with discussion of calorie counts"ellie_debney's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Sexual violence
mfrisk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.0
Short story collections can tend to be hit and miss for me and this one was definitely that for me. Additionally, sci fi and fantasy overall can be tough for me to get into. Additionally, because of the collection being YA sometimes the endings felt very after school special in terms of them being told to us and not shown. Some of that is to be expected for the reading level but it could get tiring.
That being said I do want to highlight 3 of the stories from this collection which I quite enjoyed:
That being said I do want to highlight 3 of the stories from this collection which I quite enjoyed:
- Well Suited - this was a lovely story of friendship, magic, and of rising above expectations set about by those around you.
- Smells like Teen Virgin - this was a take on the Slayer-verse which introduced some new lore and took us in an empowering direction of self-discovery and of helping others see new possibilities.
- Across the Stars: this was a story of family, friendship, and overcoming fear and a slice of life in space.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Ableism, Kidnapping, Acephobia/Arophobia, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: Animal death
caitlindee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Thank you to Pagestreet YA for the arc of this anthology!
Summaries of each story are taken from the Pagestreet YA arc sheet for this book.
General trigger warnings provided at the beginning of the book: sexual assault, sexual violence, and coercion; abuse (sexual, verbal, emotional, mental, physical); acephobia; transphobia; misgendering; ableism; abduction; death of a parent, a love interest, a sibling, and best friend; bullying; and mental illness including depression, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders with discussion of calorie counts.
OVERALL RATING: 4 STARS
How to Love a Sidewinder by Kat “Void” Yuen
Summaries of each story are taken from the Pagestreet YA arc sheet for this book.
General trigger warnings provided at the beginning of the book: sexual assault, sexual violence, and coercion; abuse (sexual, verbal, emotional, mental, physical); acephobia; transphobia; misgendering; ableism; abduction; death of a parent, a love interest, a sibling, and best friend; bullying; and mental illness including depression, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders with discussion of calorie counts.
OVERALL RATING: 4 STARS
How to Love a Sidewinder by Kat “Void” Yuen
Xiaoying has spent her life on friendships and keeping an arm’s length from love. When cursed to seek out “true love’s kiss,” Xiaoying resigns to asking her mother for help. But when she returns home she faces pressing questions for which she has no good answers.
Xiaoying is aromantic asexual and the story focuses on her relationship and communication with her mother and eventual coming out. The story had a beautiful message but it was a little too short for me, and I wish there had just been a bit more backstory to help flesh it out a little more - 3 STARS
Across the Stars by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Freya grew up on a space station with only her robots for company. The last message her parents left her before their deaths exists on her beloved communications bot, Tiki. But when Tiki’s memory core is accidentally wiped, Freya must find the courage to do the one thing she’s never been able to do: Leave home. With the help of a friendly customer service representative, Freya travels across the galaxy and learns what it means to let go of grief.
Freya is biromantic asexual. The story deals with parental death and grief, creating connection and moving forward through fear. I really enjoyed the relationship between Freya and Zoey and the connection they made. Lovely ending as well - 4 STARS
Well Suited by Rosiee Thor
When newly minted noble lady Brindle must attend a debutante ball, she lies about being engaged to a fictitious knight to avoid choosing an escort. Her best friend, Fig, a nonbinary mage, enchants a suit of armor to play the part, but there’s more to the enigmatic Sir Guy than they bargained for, and they soon realize that sometimes armor is more of a cage than a shield.
Brindle is aromantic asexual, Fig is nonbinary romantic asexual, and uses they/them pronouns. A story about two best friends both being pushed in directions they don’t want, a story about deep friendship and platonic love, coming together to create a life they want for themselves - 3.5 STARS
Nylon Bed Socks by Madeline Dyer
Amelia is desperate to escape - both the psychiatric hospital she’s found herself in and life itself. It’s too confusing, listening to the other girls who now live inside her body. Too scary being forced to eat. Too painful remembering how she was sexually assaulted for being ace. But then she meets Dale, a boy who’s accepted his own asexuality, and she wonders if she can reach that place too. But as Amelia tries to recover, the voices in her head are determined to hold her back.
Amelia is asexual, and Dale (a side character) is also asexual. A lot of trigger warnings for this one: eating disorders, sexual assault, mental illness, general ups and downs of recovery. This is written in verse and does have a hopeful ending - 5 STARS.
Give Up the Ghost by Linsey Miller
The dead stay dead in Pinesplit but don’t stay quiet, and that’s how Cassandra prefers it. Her job ferrying the living through the woods to speak with their lost loved ones pays well, keeps people from questioning her aceness, and allows her to investigate her murdered best friend’s death. However, when her newest client breaks the rules and risks Cassandra never being able to speak with the dead again, she’ll have to face far more dangerous ghosts than the real ones chasing her.
Cassandra is asexual and is focused on solving her best friend’s murder. Strong friendship, heartbreaking and bittersweet ending - 4 STARS
No Such Thing As Just by K. Hart
Halcion is keeping their asexuality a secret from their controlling boyfriend. When a threatening letter arrives at their door, it might be time to remember that there are many types of love in the world.
Halcion is asexual and nonbinary, uses they/them pronouns, and actively uses/abuses substances during the story. Their best friend is a drag queen who is focused on helping them accept themself and escape their current relationship. The story discusses the importance of love outside of romantic relationships and having strong loving friendships - 4 STARS
Smells Like Teen Virgins by S.E. Anderson
Artemis has always dreamed of being a Slayer like her family before her, tasked with dispatching monsters and protecting humanity. But with her initiation looming and her “pure” blood still attracting monsters, losing one’s virginity isn’t that easy for a sex-repulsed asexual. With jocks getting handsy, hellhounds abounding, and vampires refusing interviews, the clock is ticking for Artemis to prove, once and for all, that the very concept of virginity is outdated, and purity is a lie.
Artemis is a sex-repulsed asexual and her sister also identifies as asexual, possibly demisexual. There is an attempted sexual assault at the beginning between Artemis and a side male character. I thought the message of this one was good, regarding the belief of virginity and purity, but I’m still unsure how I feel about the plot and the storyline to convey the message - 3 STARS
Sealights by Emily Victoria
Her whole life, Annelise and her father have protected their lighthouse and the sea magic of the harbor around them. But when her father dies in a storm and Annelise begins struggling to skim the magic she needs, she’s afraid she’ll lose her home forever. It’s only when Annelise meets Meera, an innovative girl who knows land magic, that Annelise realizes there might still be a way to save her lighthouse and the magic of the sea.
Annelise isn’t labeled in this story but reads as potentially aromantic asexual. I enjoyed the friendship development between Annelise and Meera, a good story about creating connection after loss and moving forward through grief - 3.5 STARS
Moonspirited by Anju Imura
All her life, Sena has known two things: The safety of Maiko’s hand in hers, and the wanton selfishness of the gods, the spirits who brought humanity to the stars. When Maiko is taken by the Moon Empress, Sena must finally face the gods - and her own resentment towards them - if she ever wants to see her sister again.
Sena is unlabeled in the story but reads as asexual, potentially aromantic asexual. A story focused on the bond of sisterhood and familial relationships. I was sometimes confused with the past and present timeline jumps. Hopeful ending - 3 STARS
The Third Star by RoAnna Silver
When an ancient cosmic monster destroys their home, Orion and zir queerplatonic partners Leo and Brenna desperately strike out in a half-wrecked escape pod. Together, they face a cataclysmic space disaster that spells the end of their world - and maybe even their love for each other. Orion wants revenge, but is that what the trio needs? And what happens when a “monster” begins to speak?
Orion is agender, aromantic, asexual, and autistic, and uses ze/zir pronouns. The sexualities of Leo and Brenna are not specified but it is stated that they are both romantic and sexual between the two of them. There were very important relationship dynamic discussions and I enjoyed watching the trio navigate the conflicts they were dealing with together - 4 STARS
The Mermaid’s Sister by Moniza Hossain
When Phoebe’s sister enters a disastrous pact with a sea witch, all for the love of a human prince, Phoebe is confronted with the true meaning of love - love as she understands it - that to save a beloved sister there is nothing she will not brave.
Phoebe is aromantic asexual and is being arranged to marry a prince. The two of them go on a rescue mission to save Phoebe’s sister and develop a wonderful platonic friendship. Another story focusing on sisterly bonds and familial relationships. Also deals with coming out to family members - 3.5 STARS
The Hazards of Pressing Play by Lara Ameen
Violet, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, just wants to have a fun Friday night date with her girlfriend Nova. Instead, Nova goes missing and Violet begins receiving threatening and cryptic video messages luring her to Nova’s rescue. If that’s not strange enough, the person in the video looks - and sounds - just like Violet. To save her girlfriend, she’ll have to muster the courage to follow the clues despite whatever danger might be waiting at her destination.
Violet is biromantic asexual, Nova is asexual (romantic orientation not specified), and Felix is asexual (romantic orientation not specified) and Egyptian-American. A mystery/thriller short with Violet and Felix staging a rescue mission to save Nova. Creepy guy behavior - 4 STARS
No Cure for Doubt by Jas Brown
Defective Dallas is determined to make one last kill before quitting their life as an assassin after a failed mission resulted in the death of the only person they ever loved. However, when their current mission brings new revelations to light, they will have to decide what’s more important: the past, or the future?
Dallas uses they/them pronouns and reads as non-binary, but I don’t believe their gender is labeled in the story. They are asexual and possibly aromantic, but it is not specified. I enjoyed this story and the relationship between Dallas and Myriad that we saw play out in the past and the present - 4 STARS
The Witch of Festa Falls by S.J. Taylor
A historical fantasy steeped in Norwegian folklore. Birga’s beloved cousin came to the woods for peace and healing. Instead, she was drowned by a frightening monster. When the monster appears in the woods again outside the village, luring away more girls with treacherously beautiful violin song, Birga sets out alone to face him…and avenge her cousin’s death.
Birga is asexual and her best friend is gay. The story focuses on their friendship within the story of the monster in the woods. It has a hopeful ending with a focus on moving forward in your life to focus on your true desires - 3.5 STARS
Across the Stars by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Freya grew up on a space station with only her robots for company. The last message her parents left her before their deaths exists on her beloved communications bot, Tiki. But when Tiki’s memory core is accidentally wiped, Freya must find the courage to do the one thing she’s never been able to do: Leave home. With the help of a friendly customer service representative, Freya travels across the galaxy and learns what it means to let go of grief.
Freya is biromantic asexual. The story deals with parental death and grief, creating connection and moving forward through fear. I really enjoyed the relationship between Freya and Zoey and the connection they made. Lovely ending as well - 4 STARS
Well Suited by Rosiee Thor
When newly minted noble lady Brindle must attend a debutante ball, she lies about being engaged to a fictitious knight to avoid choosing an escort. Her best friend, Fig, a nonbinary mage, enchants a suit of armor to play the part, but there’s more to the enigmatic Sir Guy than they bargained for, and they soon realize that sometimes armor is more of a cage than a shield.
Brindle is aromantic asexual, Fig is nonbinary romantic asexual, and uses they/them pronouns. A story about two best friends both being pushed in directions they don’t want, a story about deep friendship and platonic love, coming together to create a life they want for themselves - 3.5 STARS
Nylon Bed Socks by Madeline Dyer
Amelia is desperate to escape - both the psychiatric hospital she’s found herself in and life itself. It’s too confusing, listening to the other girls who now live inside her body. Too scary being forced to eat. Too painful remembering how she was sexually assaulted for being ace. But then she meets Dale, a boy who’s accepted his own asexuality, and she wonders if she can reach that place too. But as Amelia tries to recover, the voices in her head are determined to hold her back.
Amelia is asexual, and Dale (a side character) is also asexual. A lot of trigger warnings for this one: eating disorders, sexual assault, mental illness, general ups and downs of recovery. This is written in verse and does have a hopeful ending - 5 STARS.
Give Up the Ghost by Linsey Miller
The dead stay dead in Pinesplit but don’t stay quiet, and that’s how Cassandra prefers it. Her job ferrying the living through the woods to speak with their lost loved ones pays well, keeps people from questioning her aceness, and allows her to investigate her murdered best friend’s death. However, when her newest client breaks the rules and risks Cassandra never being able to speak with the dead again, she’ll have to face far more dangerous ghosts than the real ones chasing her.
Cassandra is asexual and is focused on solving her best friend’s murder. Strong friendship, heartbreaking and bittersweet ending - 4 STARS
No Such Thing As Just by K. Hart
Halcion is keeping their asexuality a secret from their controlling boyfriend. When a threatening letter arrives at their door, it might be time to remember that there are many types of love in the world.
Halcion is asexual and nonbinary, uses they/them pronouns, and actively uses/abuses substances during the story. Their best friend is a drag queen who is focused on helping them accept themself and escape their current relationship. The story discusses the importance of love outside of romantic relationships and having strong loving friendships - 4 STARS
Smells Like Teen Virgins by S.E. Anderson
Artemis has always dreamed of being a Slayer like her family before her, tasked with dispatching monsters and protecting humanity. But with her initiation looming and her “pure” blood still attracting monsters, losing one’s virginity isn’t that easy for a sex-repulsed asexual. With jocks getting handsy, hellhounds abounding, and vampires refusing interviews, the clock is ticking for Artemis to prove, once and for all, that the very concept of virginity is outdated, and purity is a lie.
Artemis is a sex-repulsed asexual and her sister also identifies as asexual, possibly demisexual. There is an attempted sexual assault at the beginning between Artemis and a side male character. I thought the message of this one was good, regarding the belief of virginity and purity, but I’m still unsure how I feel about the plot and the storyline to convey the message - 3 STARS
Sealights by Emily Victoria
Her whole life, Annelise and her father have protected their lighthouse and the sea magic of the harbor around them. But when her father dies in a storm and Annelise begins struggling to skim the magic she needs, she’s afraid she’ll lose her home forever. It’s only when Annelise meets Meera, an innovative girl who knows land magic, that Annelise realizes there might still be a way to save her lighthouse and the magic of the sea.
Annelise isn’t labeled in this story but reads as potentially aromantic asexual. I enjoyed the friendship development between Annelise and Meera, a good story about creating connection after loss and moving forward through grief - 3.5 STARS
Moonspirited by Anju Imura
All her life, Sena has known two things: The safety of Maiko’s hand in hers, and the wanton selfishness of the gods, the spirits who brought humanity to the stars. When Maiko is taken by the Moon Empress, Sena must finally face the gods - and her own resentment towards them - if she ever wants to see her sister again.
Sena is unlabeled in the story but reads as asexual, potentially aromantic asexual. A story focused on the bond of sisterhood and familial relationships. I was sometimes confused with the past and present timeline jumps. Hopeful ending - 3 STARS
The Third Star by RoAnna Silver
When an ancient cosmic monster destroys their home, Orion and zir queerplatonic partners Leo and Brenna desperately strike out in a half-wrecked escape pod. Together, they face a cataclysmic space disaster that spells the end of their world - and maybe even their love for each other. Orion wants revenge, but is that what the trio needs? And what happens when a “monster” begins to speak?
Orion is agender, aromantic, asexual, and autistic, and uses ze/zir pronouns. The sexualities of Leo and Brenna are not specified but it is stated that they are both romantic and sexual between the two of them. There were very important relationship dynamic discussions and I enjoyed watching the trio navigate the conflicts they were dealing with together - 4 STARS
The Mermaid’s Sister by Moniza Hossain
When Phoebe’s sister enters a disastrous pact with a sea witch, all for the love of a human prince, Phoebe is confronted with the true meaning of love - love as she understands it - that to save a beloved sister there is nothing she will not brave.
Phoebe is aromantic asexual and is being arranged to marry a prince. The two of them go on a rescue mission to save Phoebe’s sister and develop a wonderful platonic friendship. Another story focusing on sisterly bonds and familial relationships. Also deals with coming out to family members - 3.5 STARS
The Hazards of Pressing Play by Lara Ameen
Violet, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, just wants to have a fun Friday night date with her girlfriend Nova. Instead, Nova goes missing and Violet begins receiving threatening and cryptic video messages luring her to Nova’s rescue. If that’s not strange enough, the person in the video looks - and sounds - just like Violet. To save her girlfriend, she’ll have to muster the courage to follow the clues despite whatever danger might be waiting at her destination.
Violet is biromantic asexual, Nova is asexual (romantic orientation not specified), and Felix is asexual (romantic orientation not specified) and Egyptian-American. A mystery/thriller short with Violet and Felix staging a rescue mission to save Nova. Creepy guy behavior - 4 STARS
No Cure for Doubt by Jas Brown
Defective Dallas is determined to make one last kill before quitting their life as an assassin after a failed mission resulted in the death of the only person they ever loved. However, when their current mission brings new revelations to light, they will have to decide what’s more important: the past, or the future?
Dallas uses they/them pronouns and reads as non-binary, but I don’t believe their gender is labeled in the story. They are asexual and possibly aromantic, but it is not specified. I enjoyed this story and the relationship between Dallas and Myriad that we saw play out in the past and the present - 4 STARS
The Witch of Festa Falls by S.J. Taylor
A historical fantasy steeped in Norwegian folklore. Birga’s beloved cousin came to the woods for peace and healing. Instead, she was drowned by a frightening monster. When the monster appears in the woods again outside the village, luring away more girls with treacherously beautiful violin song, Birga sets out alone to face him…and avenge her cousin’s death.
Birga is asexual and her best friend is gay. The story focuses on their friendship within the story of the monster in the woods. It has a hopeful ending with a focus on moving forward in your life to focus on your true desires - 3.5 STARS
Content Warnings
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia, Transphobia, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Bullying, and Mental illness
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