Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

14 reviews

an_alaskan_fairy_tale's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gore, Violence, Abandonment, Classism

Minor: Animal death, Pedophilia, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Cultural appropriation

dalandan's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape

mostlyliterate's review against another edition

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I finished this book a few days ago and am still thinking about how to review it, especially considering that I was about 15 minutes from dropping it when it really picked up (for me at least). 

I was drawn into this book by the writing (which I didn’t find too flowery) and the world-building (which I didn’t find too confusing). The main character, I thought, was very well-written and I enjoyed her perspective. 

Things that made this book difficult to stomach for me included children being raised as future consorts based on their personality traits (including sadism and masochism), intimate relationships between adults and minors (that I don’t think were portrayed critically enough), and racial/ethnic group (in this alternate historical Europe) representation that toed the line between inclusive and stereotypical. 

Then why did I keep reading the book? Mostly, it’s compelling. For the first several hundred pages, I just couldn’t look away, much like reading Flowers in the Attic. There was a certain point for me,

when Phèdre and Joscelin are sent to Skaldia

, where the book really picked up. 

I think that this book is in many ways criticizing and satirizing the sexual politics in many of its contemporaries, and as our narrator matured this became more apparent. Although at times disturbing and frustrating, I was glad I finished this book. I think I’ll read the next one as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, War

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Racism, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol

bottleofink's review against another edition

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seven years old.
s e v e n.
????????

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia

nettleviolet's review against another edition

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Just can't get behind any book that describes children (like 7 yr olds) as having sexual desire. Even if apparently that's her magical power. 
Which is too bad bc it's well written but like leave out the pedo vibes. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia

csifbi23's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous challenging dark slow-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: Complicated

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This book was pretty average. It has the feel of an older fantasy novel than it is, with flowery language and using a version of our world with some changes as world building. Phèdre is an interesting narrator, and the author relies on some tricks to hand wave away some explanations while going into others in detail.

It's an interesting concept, and the story is truly of an epic scale with various countries and contents, but it's hard for me to really care about any of the characters. 

Additionally, if BDSM, extreme sadomasochism, and barely veiled racism aren't your thing -- steer clear. Though also, if you're a romantasy fan, I didn't find this book to be especially racy sexually either, with the sex barely discussed and the BDSM also usually glazed over, though with some scenes in detail.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, War

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape

evgeorge's review against another edition

1.0

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail

bookworms101's review against another edition

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Yes w have a nursery in the brothel but we abide by age of consent laws I swear 😑

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape

arnoldrm's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

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I love this book. Very intense world building, complicated characters, dense plot. I love the setting and the alt-history feel. This book is long, but it used every page. I’ve never read anything like it. It takes a very dark premise and treats it with respect. When I realized what the book was about, I almost gave up on it - the main character is sold into sex work as a child, although she doesn’t actually have sex with patrons until she’s of age in the world’s culture. The tone and style make it so that as a reader I never felt like a voyeur, or complicit in the things the protagonist faces. Phedre is one of my favorite fantasy protagonists of all time. It’s not for everyone but to me it’s a masterpiece. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture

hippievamp's review

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism