Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

7 reviews

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

While this book is very much a product of its time in some aspects, it was still very enjoyable.

To start, I listened to the Graphic Audio version. I was super unsure about this version going into it, but in the end it was my favourite aspect. I listen to a lot of audiodramas, so it was a lot like them just with narration. I really enjoyed the cast and their performances. Overall I thought it really added to the experience. This version ALSO had some of the extra content for the series of the prequel novella and Currin’s two POVs of events in the book. Having these are part of the book was really nice. I was in the middle of trying to sort out how to get and read them when the audiobook started reading one of them out.

Outside of the performance, I really enjoyed Kate as a character. I liked her sense of humour and it was a nice change to have a more loner FMC as opposed to a loner MMC. I didn’t find that aspect of her character annoying either. I think it also helped that she had several allies that DESPITE the loner attitude still liked her/put faith in her.

The mystery of the book was also really enjoyable. I had a pretty easy time following most of the trains of thought for what was really going on. When the twist was finally revealed it felt like such an “oh obviously moment.”

I also LOVED the world building. While sometimes it could get a bit info dumpy, I appreciated that the reader was just thrown into the world. I had a pretty easy tome following the world and its functions, even if it wasn’t fully explained. And as more was revealed it felt well thought out and made sense.

Despite how much I enjoyed the book, it did have its flaws. Which again, are mostly a consequence of the time. So while I do understand that, it still rubbed me the wrong way.

To start, there was a level of casual sexism in the book that really threw me. Especially from Currin and his POV chapters. It just gave me the ick. I don’t think it happened often, but it happened enough that I had a few comments on it.

The other is Currin’s whole deal. Especially in his POV he felt like a classic “super tough guy who only feels horny and angry”. There is MORE to his character than that, which is appreciate. It’s just that that aspect tends to bleed through more. So while I DO ship him and Kate it’s more of a “if I close my eyes I don’t see the red flags” thing.

Overall it was a super enjoyable book! I’ll be continuing the series and I think it still mostly works today.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Animal death, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcohol, Cursing, and Body horror

Moderate: Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Death of parent

Minor: Infertility, Kidnapping, Racism, Self harm, Pregnancy, Fatphobia, Medical content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Sexual assault

shapronator's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

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

3.0

This was a relatively successful first outing with Andrews. I've heard really good things about this series, and I can see why people love it so much. I had been warned that the first book was the weakest, and I can also see how that could be the case. There's a lot of info-dumping in this book, as well as just some general clumsiness surrounding world building. However, the world itself is quite interesting and unique, and Kate is a very compelling main character with a strong narrative voice. There are aspects of this that are very dated (specifically the use of some language that would not go over well if written today), and the plot is relatively predictable and tropey. However, if you enjoy urban fantasy like I do, this is still a good time, and I have confidence based on what I've heard about the series overall that things will only improve from here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Death, Body horror, and Gore

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Suicide

Mentions of beastilaity, use of the G slur (used in the main text to describe MC's appearance) and the R slur (used in the first bonus chapter to describe MC's behavior).

wickedgrumpy's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is a re-read.

It's a solid start to the series.  I had forgotten how gruesome some of the content can be but it effective paint the picture of apocalypse adjacent times.

The mystery was exciting though knowing the culprit made it a bit frustrating when they were trying to figure out who the baddie was.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, Gore, Grief, Incest, Pedophilia, Confinement, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Misogyny, Police brutality, Stalking, Torture, and Sexual violence

space_bandit's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Body horror, Death, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Fatphobia and Racial slurs

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

I've found that I really love urban fantasy, and Magic Bites is no different. It's gripping and it made me want to pick up book two immediately after I put it down. Kate is an interesting protagonist. Having a mystery about her parentage and the strength of her magic hinted at but not quite explained left me wanting more. The world building is extensively, but not excessively explained. We're shown how things work throughout the course of the novel. Curran and the pack are interesting. Kate's issues with authority combined with current position of authority make them curious allies. They work well together, though. The end to this novel was satisfying, but I'm excited to read the next one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Child death

Minor: Alcohol and Medical content

livinginlibros's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

 The book does have some stuff that feels dated and the villain is super gross.

Kate is low key reckless but somehow ends up getting herself out of every sticky situation she puts herself in. I really liked her dynamic with Derek and I'm eager to see more of their friendship

I I felt that this story was very similar to the Nevada Baylor books. Kate and Nevada are both very stubborn and end up attracting the attention of a powerful baddie, Conner and Curran. I'll probably keep reading this series because I like the characters and I want to see Kate and Curran's relationship develop. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Sexual harassment, Violence, Cursing, and Murder