Reviews tagging 'Blood'

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

70 reviews

deepfriedaries's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, and Violence

erenreads12's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I had some doubt about this book at some points, and almost didn't end up finishing, but ultimately I am glad I did. Although clunky in places after about a third of the way in the author truly gained mastery over the pace and characters. The writing developed into a beautiful use of language to pull together a sci-fi-based commentary of a world not dissimilar from our own.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Ableism, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Medical content, Torture, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Violence

Moderate: Abortion, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

btrz7's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion

Moderate: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Homophobia, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, Transphobia, Torture, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Rape

skudiklier's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is incredibly engaging and unique. It would be easy to describe it as

slavery but in space

and nothing else but that, but there's so much more to it. Because there's a different hierarchical system in place, it shows new ways people maintain control over others. Additionally, the relationships between the various characters are so complex, and it doesn't take the easy way out of focusing on some sort of romance as a happy ending. Also, side note,

Aster is totally autistic and I really loved getting to see myself in her character in that way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Transphobia, and Violence

scribblesandsuch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? No

This book is incredible. It is so much and everything more. I feel lucky to have read it. It covers graphic and difficult topics, but the plot has so much momentum I was able to move with it. It felt inexplicably real but just enough fantasy for it to be bearable- I don't have the words for what this book means to me in this moment. I think it is a special read that will stay withmee

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Mental illness, Medical content, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Blood, and Abortion

This contains heavy topics, please take care of yourself as you read it, but if you can, I think it is worth it

triptych_turning's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I really, really enjoyed this book. It was an amazing read, with exceptional characters, some amazing worldbuilding, and flawless emotional undertones. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone, and then some. My only final comment is that I would imagine that it is pretty trigger-heavy, so keep that in mind if reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence

quorumbutton's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Rape

Moderate: Ableism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, and Violence

yavin_iv's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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, Bullying, Death, Violence, Child death, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Racism, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Homophobia, Body shaming, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Self harm, and Police brutality

Minor: Pedophilia

gwen_c's review against another edition

dark emotional

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Medical content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Transphobia

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this book even though it's more dystopian than I typically enjoy. The world-ship & society are vividly portrayed, & characters are interesting. It's not an easy read, set in a space society where slavery and the subjugation of black people is alive and well. Black people live in terrible conditions in lower decks on the space ship. They are expected to report to work daily in the fields or elsewhere (such as working in the radiation-heavy deck of their small sun), and their lives are closely controlled and monitored by white guards watching their every move and doing nightly headcount to make sure everyone is where they're supposed to be. 
I enjoyed having a neuro-atypical protagonist & LGBTQ+ characters. Aster is a delightful character who spends most of her time thinking in very literal and straight-forward ways. Her strong understanding of medical science isn't her only useful skill, and her way of thinking helps her crack tough codes and to survive. 

Content warnings for suicide, rape, spousal abuse, oppressive abuse, racism, mental illness, loss of a parent, and other topics that may be difficult for some readers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Slavery

Moderate: Mental illness, Confinement, Sexual content, Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Terminal illness

Loss of a parent, loss of a friend