Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

87 reviews

megannewsome's review

informative inspiring medium-paced

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

3.25

Sometimes I wish I had an English degree because I want to be able to describe why some poetic prose is beautiful and other times the flowery, "lyrical" language is exhausting and monotonous. I was so interested in the background behind the book, in the history it told, that I kept going, thinking surely I would get to the part where I'd see why this book is so revered. But it never captured me. I kept wanting to know more about Hirut, to share more time with her so that the tension, despair, and hope she made me feel would be matched with a better understanding of her, which would have made me feel attached to her after the book ended. But much like a historical photo, she's mostly still a stranger to me. And that was the best character! I just think so much time was spent on flowery phrases and long-winded descriptions of the same object or landscape over and over. And the praise for the book just had me excited for something more. I definitely still felt awe for the history it was unraveling, which is a testament to how impressively the author researched. The time spent studying photos certainly translated to the page. Mengiste succeeds at painting a picture. I just wanted a deeper story, too.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

theres_claire's review

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, and Rape

Minor: Death of parent

hardcoverhearts's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative tense medium-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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Grief, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, and Forced institutionalization

figgy_pudding's review against another edition

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

lucyreading's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

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

Its very violent.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Racism, Gun violence, Genocide, and Death

natalieabigail's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, Murder, Gun violence, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Antisemitism

sarrasegway's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Antisemitism, Child death, Confinement, Excrement, and Gun violence

reneereads's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

brgntteva's review

dark informative inspiring tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Torture, and Violence

tabitha_isabelle's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence