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mamareadstuff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Violence
kelisabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Murder, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Blood, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Grief, Biphobia, Sexism, Trafficking, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Classism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Self harm
jadenchimes06's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Self harm, Alcohol, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, and Violence
cheerful_elephant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Rape and Violence
rworrall78's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Shines a light on the destruction wrought on people and communities by capitalism, colonialism, violence to women, racism and colourism.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Rape
Moderate: Violence and Colonisation
eleven_hummingbird's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sexual and domestic violence are a paramount theme throughout. Margot's narrative largely follows her struggle to climb above hotel work and prostitution, while also balancing the weight of family and her romantic interest, the latter expanding into a major narrative exploring saphism and homophobia. Most of the female cast have histories of sexual violence, which plays importance throughout.
Wealth, or lackthereof, is another major theme. The impoverished backgrounds of most of the cast is starkly contrasted with the wealth of foreigners and the tourism industry, further split by the overlap of language, class, and skin color.
Impelled to be successful by her mother, who scrapes a living selling trinkets to tourists, Margot passes on most of her earnings towards her sister's education, while Thandi herself struggles to find her own identity and desires.
The conflict of sacrifice and blame between the family ultimately coalesces into an underlying question of autonomy.
A very good debut novel.
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Racism
kaitsteak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Violence
samanthaleereads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Rape, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Terminal illness, Mental illness, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal death