Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste

37 reviews

stindex's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, War, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Violence, Death, Genocide, and Medical content

khakipantsofsex's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, and Racism

Moderate: Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Slavery

chelsl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring sad 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Rape, Sexual violence, and War

mistercrow's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, and War

kittyka0s's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, Sexual violence, War, Pedophilia, Torture, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Misogyny, Child abuse, Gun violence, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

cj_spataro's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

This is a dark, challenging book - at least it was for me. I was very interested in reading about the Italian attempt to colonize Ethiopia and how the Ethiopians managed to defeat the Italians under Mussolini. The novel is told from several points of view - one of which is an Ethiopian female guard to the Shadow King (as Haile Selassie has fled), Hirut. The other is an Italian photographer, sent by the government to document the war. No one comes out of this unscathed and at times, for me, the violence was difficult to read about - especially the sexual violence. The book is beautifully written. The descriptions and evocations of place are masterful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and War

careinthelibrary's review

adventurous dark emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual violence, Confinement, Murder, Colonisation, Torture, War, Death, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death of parent and Sexism

emmah_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging

3.5

An important and interesting story! I think this would be a great book for someone who likes battle scenes and who has the stomach for repeated and graphic SA.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

beriboo's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Death

moriahleigh's review

emotional informative tense slow-paced

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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Racism, War, and Domestic abuse